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^     51  ir"^  ^ 


THE   WORKS   OF 
GEORGE   MEREDITH 


MEMORIAL   EDITION 
VOLUME 


\ 


GEORGE   MEREDITH 


THE 
SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

AN    ARABIAN 
ENTERTAINMENT 


NEW  YORK 
CHARLES  SGRIBNER'S  SONS 

1909 


Copyright,  1898, 
BY  GEORGE  MEREDITH 


PR 

ess 

CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  THWACKINGS 3 

THE   STORY   OF   BHANAVAR  THE   BEAUTIFUL      ...  25 

THE   BETROTHAL 102 

PUNISHMENT    OF    SHAHPESH,    THE    PERSIAN,    ON    KHIPIL, 

THE   BUILDER 112 

THE   GENIE   KARAZ 119 

THE   WELL   OF   PAR  AVID 127 

THE   HORSE   GARRAVEEN 132 

THE   TALKING   HAWK 138 

GOORELKA   OF   OOLB 145 

THE  LILY  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SEA  ....  151 
STORY  OF  NOORNA  BIN  NOORKA,  THE  GENIE  KAEAZ,  AND 

THE   PRINCESS   OF   OOLB 158 

THE   WILES   OF  EABESQURAT 177 

THE   PALACE   OF   AKLIS 196 

THE   SONS   OF   AKLIS 205 

THE   SWORD   OF  AKLIS 216 

KOOROOKH 220 

V 


VI 


THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE  VEILED    FIGURE 

THE  BOSOM    OF    NOORNA 

THE  REVIVAL  ... 

THE  PLOT  ..... 

THE  DISH    OF    POMEGRANATE    GRAIN' 

THE  BDRNIXG    OF    THE    IDENTICAL 

THE  FL.\SHES    OF    THE    BLADE 

CONCLUSION 


PAGE 

227 
232 
237 
241 
250 
272 
282 
292 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


GEORGE  MEREDITH  .  .  .  Frontispiece 

From  a  photograph  by  Alvin  Langdon  Coburn, 
taken  October,  1904. 


SHAGPAT       .....       Facing  page     14 
From  a  drawing  by  Patten  Wilson. 

BHANAVAR  ....  „  96 

From  a  drawing  by  Patten  Wilson. 

COTTAGE   AT   HALLIFORD         ...  ,,  192 

This  cottage  stands  on  the  Village  Green,  and  was  the 
author's  home  at  the  time  when  he  was  writing  The 
Shaving  of  Shagpat. 


THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 


THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE  THWACKINGS 

It  was  ordained  that  Shibli  Bagarag,  nephew  to  the  re- 
nowned Baba  Mustapha,  chief  barber  to  the  Court  of 
Persia,  should  shave  Shagpat,  the  son  of  Shimpoor,  the 
son  of  Shoolpi,  the  son  of  Shullum;  and  they  had  been 
clothiers  for  generations,  even  to  the  time  of  Shagpat,  the 
illustrious. 

Now,  the  story  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  of  the  ball  he  fol- 
lowed, and  of  the  subterranean  kingdom  he  came  to,  and 
of  the  enchanted  palace  he  entered,  and  of  the  sleeping 
king  he  shaved,  and  of  the  two  princesses  he  released, 
and  of  the  Afrite  held  in  subjection  by  the  arts  of  one  and 
bottled  by  her,  is  it  not  known  as  'twere  written  on  the 
finger-nails  of  men  and  traced  in  their  corner-robes?  As 
the  poet  says: 

Ripe  with  oft  telling  and  old  is  the  tale, 
But  'tis  of  the  sort  that  can  never  grow  stale. 

Now,  things  were  in  that  condition  with  Shibli  Bagarag, 

that  on  a  certain  day  he  was  hungry  and  abject,  and  the 

city  of  Shagpat  the  clothier  was  before  him;   so  he  made 

toward  it,  deUberating  as  to  how  he  should  procure  a  meal, 

for  he  had  not  a  dirhem  in  his  girdle,  and  the  remembrance 

of  great  dishes  and  savoury  ingredients  were  to  him  as 

the  illusion  of  rivers  sheening  on  the  sands  to  travellers 

gasping  with  thirst. 

3 


4  THE  SILWING  OF  SHAGPAT 

And  he  considered  his  case,  crying,  'Surely  this  comes 
of  wanderinj;,  and  'tis  the  curse  of  the  inquiring  si)Lrit! 
for  in  Shiraz,  where  my  craft  is  in  favour,  I  should  be 
sittmg  now  with  my  uncle,  Baba  Mustapha,  the  loquacious 
one,  cross-legged,  partaking  of  seasoned  sweet  dishes, 
dipping  my  fingers  in  them,  rejoicing  my  soul  with  scandal 
of  the  Court!' 

Now,  he  came  to  a  knoll  of  sand  under  a  palm,  from 
which  the  yellow  domes  and  mosques  of  the  city  of  Shag- 
pat,  and  its  black  cypresses,  and  marble  palace  fronts,  and 
shining  pillars,  and  lofty  carven  arches  that  spanned  half- 
circles  of  the  hot  grey  sky,  were  plainly  \isible.  Then 
gazed  he  awhile  despondingly  on  the  city  of  Shagpat,  and 
groaned  in  contemplation  of  his  evil  plight,  as  is  said  by 
the  poet: 

The  curse  of  sorrow  is  comparison! 

As  the  sun  casteth  shade,  night  showeth  star, 
We,  measuring  what  we  were  by  what  we  are, 
Behold  the  depth  to  which  we  are  undone. 

Wherefore  he  counselleth: 

Look  neither  too  much  up,  nor  down  at  all, 
But,  forward  stepping,  strive  no  more  to  fall. 

And  the  advice  is  excellent ;  but,  as  is  again  said : 

The  preacher  preacheth,  and  the  hearer  heareth, 
But  comfort  first  each  function  requireth. 

And  '  wisdom  to  a  hungry  stomach  is  thin  pottage,'  saith 
the  shrewd  reader  of  men.  Little  comfort  was  there  with 
Shibli  Bagarag,  as  he  looked  on  the  city  of  Shagpat  the 
clothier!  lie  cried  aloud  that  his  evil  chance  had  got  the 
better  of  him,  and  rolled  his  body  in  the  sand,  beating  his 


THE  THWACKINGS  5 

breast,  and  conjuring  up  images  of  the  profusion  of  dain- 
ties and  the  abundance  of  provision  in  Shiraz,  exclaim- 
ing, '  Well-a-way  and  woe  's  me !  this  it  is  to  be  selected 
for  the  diversion  of  him  that  plotteth  against  man.' 
Truly  is  it  written: 

On  different  heads  misfortunes  come: 
One  bears  them  firm,  another  faints, 

While  this  one  hangs  them  like  a  drum 
"Whereon  to  batter  loud  complaints. 

And  of  the  three  kinds,  they  who  bang  the  drum  outnum- 
ber the  silent  ones  as  do  the  billows  of  the  sea  the  ships 
that  swim,  or  the  grains  of  sand  the  trees  that  grow;  a 
noisy  multitude. 

Now,  he  was  in  the  pits  of  despondency,  even  as  one 
that  yieldeth  without  further  struggle  to  the  waves  of 
tempest  at  midnight,  when  he  was  ware  of  one  standing 
over  him, — a  woman,  old,  wrinkled,  a  very  crone,  with 
but  room  for  the  dra\\'ing  of  a  thread  between  her  nose 
and  her  chin;  she  was,  as  is  cited  of  them  who  betray  the 
doings  of  Time, 

Wrinkled  at  the  rind,  and  overripe  at  the  core, 

and  every  part  of  her  nodded  and  shook  like  a  tree  sapped 
by  the  waters,  and  her  joints  were  sharp  as  the  hind-legs 
of  a  grasshopper;  she  was  indeed  one  close-wrecked  upon 
the  rocks  of  Time. 

Now,  when  the  old  woman  had  scanned  Shibli  Bagarag, 
she  called  to  him,  '0  thou!  what  is  it  with  thee,  that 
thou  rollest  as  one  reft  of  his  wits?' 

He  answered  her,  '  I  bewail  my  condition,  which  is  beg- 
gary, and  the  lack  of  that  which  filleth  with  pleasantness.' 

So  the  old  woman  said,  'Tell  me  thy  case.' 


6  THE  SHAVING  OF  SIL\GPAT 

He  answorod  her,  '0  old  woman,  surely  it  was  written 
at  my  birth  that  I  should  take  ruin  from  the  readers  of 
planets.  Now,  they  proclaimed  that  I  was  one  day  des- 
tined for  great  things,  if  I  stood  by  my  tackle,  I,  a  barber. 
Know  then,  that  I  have  had  many  offers  and  bribes,  se- 
ductive ones,  from  the  rich  and  the  exalted  in  rank;  and 
I  heeded  them  not,  mindful  of  what  was  foretold  of  me. 
I  stood  by  my  tackle  as  a  warrior  standeth  by  his  arms, 
flourishing  them.  Now,  when  I  found  great  things  came 
not  to  me,  and  'twas  the  continuance  of  sameness  and 
satiety  with  liaba  Mustapha,  my  uncle,  in  Shiraz, — the 
tongue-wagger,  the  endless  tattler, — surely  I  was  advised 
by  the  words  of  the  poet  to  go  forth  in  search  of  what  was 
wanting,  and  he  says: 

"Thou  that  dreamest  an  Event, 
While  Circumstance  is  but  a  waste  of  sand, 
Arise,  take  up  thy  fortunes  in  thy  hand, 
And  daily  forward  pitch  thy  tent." 

Now,  I  passed  from  city  to  city,  proclaiming  my  science, 
holding  aloft  my  tackle.  Wullahy!  many  adventures 
were  mine,  and  if  there's  some  day  propitiousness  in  for- 
tune, 0  old  woman,  I'll  tell  thee  of  what  befell  me  in  the 
kingdom  of  Shah  Shamshureen:  'tis  wondrous,  a  matter 
to  draw  down  the  lower  jaw  with  amazement!  Now,  so  it 
was,  that  in  the  eyes  of  one  city  I  was  honoured  and  in 
request,  by  reason  of  my  calling,  and  I  fared  sumptuously, 
even  as  a  great  officer  of  state  surrounded  by  slaves,  loung- 
ing upon  clouds  of  silk  stuffs,  circled  by  attentive  cars:  in 
another  city  there  was  no  beast  so  base  as  I.  Wah!  I 
was  one  hunted  of  men  and  an  abomination;  no  hous- 
ing for  me,  nought  to  operate  ui)on.  I  was  the  lean  dog 
that  lieth  in  wait  for  offal.  It  seemeth  certain,  0  old 
woman,  that  a  curse  hath  fallen  on  barbercraft  in  these 


THE  THWACKINGS  7 

days,  because  of  the  Identical,  whose  might  I  know  not. 
Everywhere  it  is  growing  in  disrepute;  'tis  languishing! 
Nevertheless  till  now  I  have  preserved  my  tackle,  and  I 
would  descend  on  yonder  city  to  exercise  it,  even  for  a 
livelihood,  forgetting  awhile  great  things,  but  that  I  dread 
men  may  have  changed  there  also, — and  there's  no  sta- 
bility in  them,  I  call  Allah  (whose  name  be  praised!)  to 
witness;  so  should  I  be  a  thing  unsightly,  subject  to  hate- 
ful castigation;  wherefore  is  it  that  I  am  in  that  state 
described  by  the  poet,  when, 

"Dreading  retreat,  dreading  advance  to  make, 
Round  we  revolve,  like  to  the  wounded  snake." 

Is  not  my  case  now  a  piteous  one,  one  that  toucheth  the 
tender  corner  in  man  and  woman? ' 

When  she  that  listened  had  heard  him  to  an  end,  she 
shook  her  garments,  crying,  '0  youth,  son  of  my  uncle, 
be  comforted!  for,  if  it  is  as  I  think,  the  readers  of  planets 
were  right,  and  thou  art  thus  early  within  reach  of  great 
things — nigh  grasping  them.' 

Then  she  fell  to  mumbling  and  reciting  jigs  of  verse, 
quaint  measures;  and  she  pored  along  the  sand  to  where  a 
line  had  been  drawn,  and  saw  that  the  footprints  of  the 
youth  were  traced  along  it.  Lo,  at  that  sight  she  clapped 
her  hands  joyfully,  and  ran  up  to  the  youth,  and  peered 
in  his  face,  exclaiming,  'Great  things  indeed!  and  praise 
thou  the  readers  of  planets,  O  nephew  of  the  barber, — 
they  that  sent  thee  searching  the  Event  thou  art  to  master. 
Wullahy!  have  I  not  half  a  mind  to  call  thee  already 
Master  of  the  Event? ' 

Then  she  abated  somewhat  in  her  liveliness,  and  said  to 
him,  '  Know  that  the  city  thou  seest  is  the  city  of  Shag- 
pat,  the  clothier,  and  there's  no  one  living  on  the  face 
of  earth,  nor  a  soul  that  requireth  thy  craft  more  than 


8  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

he.  Go  therefore  thou,  bold  of  heart,  brisk,  full  of  the 
spri^htliness  of  the  barber,  and  enter  to  him.  Lo,  thou  'It 
see  him  lolling  in  his  shop-front  to  be  admired  of  this 
people — marvelled  at.  Oh!  no  mistaking  of  Shagpat, 
and  the  mole  might  discern  Shagpat  among  myriads  of 
our  kind;  and  enter  thou  to  him  gaily,  as  to  perform  a 
friendly  office,  one  meriting  thanks  and  gratulations,  say- 
ing, "  I  will  preserve  thee  the  Identical!"  Now  he'll  at  first 
feign  not  to  understand  thee,  dense  of  wit  that  he  is!  but 
mince  not  matters  with  him,  perform  well  thy  operation, 
and  thou  wilt  come  to  great  things.  What  say  I?  'tis 
certain  that  when  thou  hast  shaved  Shagpat  thou  wilt 
have  achieved  the  greatest  of  things,  and  be  most  note- 
worthy of  thy  race, — thou,  Shibli  Bagarag,  even  thou!  and 
thou  wilt  be  Master  of  the  Event,  so  named  in  anecdotes 
and  histories  and  records,  to  all  succeeding  generations.' 

At  her  words  the  breast  of  Shibli  Bagarag  took  in  a 
great  wind,  and  he  hung  his  head  a  moment  to  ponder 
them;  and  he  thought,  'There  's  provokingness  in  the 
speech  of  this  old  woman,  and  she  's  one  that  instigateth 
keenly.  She  called  me  by  my  name!  Heard  I  that? 
'Tis  a  mystery!'  And  he  thought,  ' Perad venture  she  is  a 
Genie,  one  of  an  ill  tribe,  and  she  's  luring  me  to  my  per- 
dition in  this  city!  How  if  that  be  so?'  And  again  he 
thought,  'It  cannot  be!  She's  probably  the  Genie  that 
presided  over  my  birth,  and  promised  me  dower  of  great 
things  through  the  mouths  of  the  readers  of  planets.' 

Now,  when  Shibli  Bagarag  had  so  deliberated,  he  lifted 
his  sight,  and  lo,  the  old  woman  was  no  longer  before  him! 
He  stared,  and  rubbed  his  eyes,  but  she  was  clean  gone. 
Then  ran  he  to  the  knolls  and  eminences  that  were  scat- 
tered about,  to  command  a  view,  but  she  was  nowhere 
visible.  So  he  thought,  "Twas  a  dream!'  and  he  was 
composing  himself  to  despair  upon  the  scant  herbage  of  one 
of  those  knolls,  when  as  he  chanced  to  gaze  down  the  city 


THE  THWACKINGS  9 

below,  he  saw  there  a  commotion  and  a  crowd  of  people 
flocking  one  way;  he  thought,  "Twas  surely  no  dream? 
come  not  Genii,  and  go  they  not,  in  the  fashion  of  that  old 
woman?  I'll  even  descend  on  yonder  city,  and  try  my 
tackle  on  Shagpat,  inquiring  for  him,  and  if  he  is  there, 
I  shall  know  I  have  had  to  do  with  a  potent  spirit.  Allah 
protect  me!' 

So,  having  shut  together  the  clasps  of  resolve,  he  arose 
and  made  for  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  entered  it  by  the 
principal  entrance.  It  was  a  fair  city,  the  fairest  and 
chief  of  that  country;  prosperous,  powerful;  a  mart  for 
numerous  commodities,  handicrafts,  wares;  round  it  a 
wild  country  and  a  waste  of  sand,  ruled  by  the  lion  in  his 
wrath,  and  in  it  the  tiger,  the  camelopard,  the  antelope,  and 
other  animals.  Hither,  in  caravans,  came  the  people  of 
Oolb  and  the  people  of  Damascus,  and  the  people  of  Vatz, 
and  they  of  Bagdad,  and  the  Ringheez,  great  traders,  and 
others,  trading;  and  there  was  constant  flow  of  intercourse 
between  them  and  the  city  of  Shagpat.  Now  as  Shibli 
Bagarag  paced  up  one  of  the  streets  of  the  city,  he  beheld 
a  multitude  in  procession  following  one  that  was  crowned 
after  the  manner  of  kings,  with  a  glittering  crown,  clad  in 
the  yellow  girdled  robes,  and  he  sporting  a  fine  profusion 
of  hair,  unequalled  by  all  around  him,  save  by  one  that 
was  a  little  behind,  shadowed  by  his  presence.  So  Shibli 
Bagarag  thought,  '  Is  one  of  this  twain  Shagpat?  for  never 
till  now  have  I  seen  such  rare  growths,  and  'twere  indeed 
a  bhss  to  slip  the  blade  between  them  and  those  masses  of 
darkness  that  hang  from  them.'  Then  he  stepped  before 
the  King,  and  made  himself  prominent  in  his  path,  hum- 
bling himself;  and  it  was  as  he  anticipated,  the  King  pre- 
vented his  removal  by  the  slaves  that  would  have  dragged 
him  away,  and  desired  a  hearing  as  to  his  business,  and 
what  brought  him  to  the  city,  a  stranger. 

Thereupon  Shibh  Bagarag  prostrated  himself  and  cried, 


10  TliE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

'0  great  King,  Sovereign  of  the  Time!  surely  I  am  one  to 
be  looked  on  witii  the  eye  of  grace;  and  I  am  nephew 
to  Baha  Mustapha,  renowned  in  Shiraz,  a  barber; — I  a 
barber,  and  it  is  my  prayer,  O  King  of  the  Age,  that  thou 
take  me  under  tliy  ])rotcction  and  the  shield  of  thy  fair 
will,  while  I  i^erform  good  work  in  this  city  by  operating 
on  the  unshorn.' 

When  lu!  Jiad  spoken,  the  King  made  a  point  of  his  eye- 
brows, and  exclaimed,  'Shiraz?  So  they  hold  out  against 
Shagpat  yet,  aha?  Shiraz!  that  nest  of  them!  that  rep- 
tile's nest!'  Then  he  turned  to  his  Vizier  beside  him, 
and  said,  'What  shall  be  done  with  this  fellow?' 

So  the  Vizier  replied,  '  'Twere  well,  0  King,  he  be  sum- 
moned to  a  sense  of  the  loathsomeness  of  his  craft  by  the 
agency  of  fifty  stripes.' 

The  King  said,  "Tis  commanded!' 

Then  he  passed  forward  in  his  majesty,  and  Shibli 
Bagarag  was  ware  of  the  power  of  five  slaves  upon  him, 
and  he  was  hurried  at  a  quick  pace  through  the  streets 
and  before  the  eyes  of  the  people,  even  to  the  common  re- 
ceptacle of  felons,  and  there  received  from  each  slave 
severally  ten  thwacks  with  a  thong:  'tis  certain  that  at 
every  thwack  the  thong  took  an  airing  before  it  descended 
upon  him.  Then  loosed  they  him,  to  wander  whither  ho 
listed;  and  disgust  was  strong  in  him  by  reason  of  the 
disgrace  and  the  severity  of  the  administration  of  the 
blows.  He  strayed  along  the  streets  in  wretchedness,  and 
hunger  increased  on  him,  assailing  him  first  as  a  wolf  in 
his  vitals,  then  as  it  had  been  a  chasm  yawning  betwixt 
his  trunk  and  his  lower  members.  And  he  thought,  'I 
have  be(>n  long  in  chase  of  great  things,  and  the  hope  of 
attaining  them  is  great;  yet,  wullahy!  would  I  barter  all 
for  one  refreshing  meal,  and  the  sense  of  fulness.  'Tis 
so,  and  sad  is  it!'  And  he  was  mindful  of  the  poet's 
words, — 


THE  THWACKINGS  11 

Who  seeks  the  shadow  to  the  substance  sinneth, 
And  daily  craving  what  is  not,  he  thinneth: 

His  lean  ambition  how  shall  he  attain  ? 
For  with  this  constant  foolishness  he  doeth, — 
He,  waxing  liker  to  what  he  pursueth, 

Himself  becometh  what  he  chased  in  vain! 

And  again: 

Of  honour  half  my  fellows  boast, — 

A  thing  that  scorns  and  kills  us: 
Methinks  that  honours  us  the  most 

Which  nourishes  and  fills  us. 

So  he  thought  he  would  of  a  surety  fling  far  away  his 
tackle,  discard  barbe^craft,  and  be  as  other  men,  a  mortal, 
forgotten  with  his  generation.  And  he  cried  aloud,  'O 
thou  old  woman!  thou  deceiver!  what  hast  thou  obtained 
for  me  by  thy  deceits?  and  why  put  I  faith  in  thee  to  the 
purchase  of  a  thwacking?  Woe  's  me!  I  would  thou  hadst 
been  but  a  dream,  thou  crone!  thou  guileful  parcel  of 
belabouring  bones!' 

Now,  while  he  lounged  and  strolled,  and  was  abusing 
the  old  woman,  he  looked  before  him,  and  lo,  one  lolling 
in  his  shop-front,  and  people  standing  outside  the  shop, 
marking  him  with  admiration  and  reverence,  and  pointing 
him  out  to  each  other  with  approving  gestures.  He  who 
lolled  there  was  indeed  a  miracle  of  hairiness,  black  with 
hair  as  he  had  been  muzzled  with  it,  and  his  head  as  it 
were  a  berry  in  a  bush  by  reason  of  it.  Then  thought 
Shibli  Bagarag,  "Tis  Shagpat!  If  the  mole  could  swear 
to  him,  surely  can  I.'  So  he  regarded  the  clothier,  and 
there  was  naught  seen  on  earth  like  the  gravity  of  Shagpat 
as  he  lolled  before  those  people,  that  failed  not  to  assemble 
in  groups  and  gaze  at  him.  He  was  as  a  sleepy  lion  cased 
in  his  mane;  as  an  owl  drowsy  in  the  daylight.  Now 
would  he  close  an  eye,  or  move  two  fingers,  but  of  other 


12  THE  SILWING  OF  SILVGPAT 

motion  made  he  none,  yet  the  people  gazed  at  him  with 
eagerness.  Shil)li  liagarag  was  astonished  at  them,  tliink- 
ing,  'Hair!  hair!  There  is  might  in  hair;  but  there  is 
greater  might  in  the  barber!  Nevertheless  here  the  barber 
is  scorned,  the  grower  of  crops  held  in  amazing  reverence.' 
Then  thought  he,  "Tis  truly  wondrous  the  crop  he  grow- 
eth;  not  even  King  Shamshureen,  after  a  thousand  years, 
sported  such  mighty  profusion!  Him  I  sheared:  it  was  a 
high  task! — why  not  this  Shagpat?' 

Now,  long  gazing  on  Shagpat  awoke  in  Shibli  Bagarag 
fierce  desire  to  shear  him,  and  it  was  scarce  in  his  power 
to  restrain  himself  from  flying  at  the  clothier,  he  saying, 
'What  obstacle  now?  what  protecteth  him?  Nay,  why 
not  trust  to  the  old  woman?  Said  she  not  I  should  first 
essay  on  Shagpat?  and  'twas  my  folly  in  appealing  to  the 
King  that  brought  on  me  that  thwacking.  Tis  well!  I'll 
trust  to  her  words.  Wullahy!  will  it  not  lead  me  to  great 
things?' 

So  it  was,  that  as  he  thought  this  he  continued  to  keep 
eye  on  Shagj)at,  and  the  liimger  that  was  in  him  passed, 
and  became  a  ravenous  vulture  that  flew  from  him  and 
singled  forth  Shagpat  as  prey;  and  there  was  no  help  for 
it  but  in  he  must  go  and  state  his  case  to  Shagpat,  and 
essay  shearing  him. 

Now,  when  he  was  in  the  presence,  he  exclaimed, '  Peace, 
O  vendor  of  a])i)arcl,  unto  thee  and  unto  thine!' 

Shagpat  answered,  'That  with  thee!' 

Said  Shibli  Bagarag,  'I  have  heard  of  thee,  0  thou 
wonder!  A\'ullahy!  1  am  here  to  render  homage  to  that  I 
behold.' 

Shagpat  answered,  '  'Tis  well ! ' 

Then  said  Shibli  Bagarag,  'Praise  my  discretion!  I 
have  even  this  day  entered  the  city,  and  it  is  to  thee  I  offer 
the  first  shave,  O  tangle  of  glory!' 

At  these  words  Shagpat  darkened,  saying  gruffly,  'Thy 


THE  THWACKINGS  13 

jest  is  offensive,  and  it  is  unseasonable  for  staleness  and 
lack  of  holiness.' 

But  Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  'No  jest,  0  purveyor  to  the 
outward  of  us!  but  a  very  excellent  earnest.' 

Thereat  the  face  of  Shagpat  was  as  an  exceeding  red 
berry  in  a  bush,  and  he  said  angrily,  '  Have  done !  no  more 
of  it!  or  haply  mj^  spleen  will  be  awakened,  and  that  of 
them  who  see  with  more  e3"es  than  two.' 

Nevertheless  Shibli  Bagarag  urged  him,  and  he  winked, 
and  gesticulated,  and  pointed  to  his  head,  crying,  'Fall 
not,  O  man  of  the  nicety  of  measure,  into  the  trap  of  error; 
for  'tis  I  that  am  a  barber,  and  a  rarity  in  this  city,  even 
Shibli  Bagarag  of  Shiraz!  Know  me  nephew  of  the  re- 
nowned Baba  Mustapha,  chief  barber  to  the  Court  of 
Persia.  Languishest  thou  not  for  my  art?  Lo!  with  three 
sweeps  I'll  give  thee  a  clean  poll,  all  save  the  Identical! 
and  I  can  discern  and  save  it;  fear  me  not,  nor  distrust 
my  skill  and  the  cunning  that  is  mine.' 

When  he  had  heard  Shibli  Bagarag  to  a  close,  the  coun- 
tenance of  ShagiDat  waxed  fiery,  as  it  had  been  flame 
kindled  by  travellers  at  night  in  a  thorny  bramble-bush, 
and  he  ruffled,  and  heaved,  and  was  as  when  dense  jungle- 
growths  are  stirred  \dolently  by  the  near  approach  of  a 
wild  animal  in  his  fury,  shouting  in  short  breaths,  'A 
barber!  a  barber!  Is  't  so?  can  it  be?  To  me?  A  barber! 
O  thou,  thou  reptOe!  filthy  thing!  A  barber!  0  dog!  A 
barber?  What?  when  I  bid  fair  for  the  highest  honours 
known?  0  sacrilegious  wretch!  monster!  How?  are  the 
Afrites  jealous,  that  they  send  thee  to  jibe  me?' 

Thereupon  he  set  up  a  cry  for  his  wife,  and  that  woman 
rushed  to  him  from  an  inner  room,  and  fell  upon  Shibli 
Bagarag,  belabouring  him. 

So,  when  she  was  weary  of  this,  she  said,  '0  light  of 
my  eyes!  0  golden  crop  and  adorable  man!  what  hath  he 
done  to  thee?' 


14  THE  SHAVING  OF  SH.\GPAT 

Shagpat  answered,  "Tis  a  barber!  and  he  hath  sworn  to 
shave  nio,  and  leave  nie  not  save  shorn!' 

Hardly  had  Shagpat  spoken  this,  when  she  became  limp 
with  the  hearing  of  it.  Then  Shibli  Bagarag  slunk  from 
the  shop;  but  without  the  crowd  had  increased,  seeing  an 
altercation,  and  as  he  took  to  his  heels  they  followed  him, 
and  there  was  uproar  in  the  streets  of  the  city  and  in  the 
air  above  them,  as  of  raging  Genii, — he  like  a  started  quarry 
doubling  this  way  and  that,  and  at  the  corners  of  streets 
and  open  places,  speeding  on  till  there  was  no  breath  in  his 
bod}',  the  cry  still  after  him  that  he  had  bearded  Shagpat. 
At  last  they  came  up  with  him,  and  belaboured  him  each 
and  all ;  it  was  a  storm  of  thwacks  that  fell  on  the  back  of 
Shibli  Bagarag.  When  they  had  wearied  themselves  in 
this  fashion,  they  took  him  as  had  he  been  a  stray  bundle 
or  a  damaged  bale,  and  hurled  him  from  the  gates  of  the  city 
into  the  wilderness  once  more. 

Now,  when  he  was  alone,  he  staggered  awhile  and  then 
flung  himself  to  the  earth,  looking  neither  to  the  right  nor 
to  the  left,  nor  above.  All  he  could  think  was,  'O  ac- 
cursed old  woman!'  and  this  he  kept  repeating  to  himself 
for  solace;  as  the  poet  says: 

'Tis  sure    the    special    privilege    of   hate, 
To  curse  the  authors  of  our  evil  state. 

As  he  was  thus  complaining,  behold  the  very  old  woman 
before  him!  And  she  wheezed,  and  croaked,  and  coughed, 
and  shook  herself,  and  screwed  her  face  into  a  pleasing 
pucker,  and  assumed  womanish  airs,  and  swayed  herself, 
like  as  do  the  full  moons  of  the  harem  when  the  eye  of  the 
master  is  upon  them.  Having  made  an  end  of  these  pret- 
tinesses,  she  said,  in  a  tone  of  soft  insinuation,  '  0  youth, 
nephew  of  the  barber,  look  upon  me.' 

Shibli  Bagarag  knew  her  voice,  and  he  would  not  look, 
thinking,  'Oh,  what  a  dreadful  old  woman  is  this!   just 


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THE  THWACKINGS  15 

calling  on  her  name  in  detestation  maketh  her  present  to 
us.'  So  the  old  woman,  seeing  him  resolute  to  shun  her, 
leaned  to  him,  and  put  one  hand  to  her  dress,  and  squatted 
beside  him,  and  said,  '0  youth,  thou  hast  been  thwacked!' 

He  groaned,  lifting  not  his  face,  nor  saying  aught.  Then 
said  she,  'Art  thou  truly  in  search  of  great  things,  0 
youth?' 

Still  he  groaned,  answering  no  syllable.  And  she  con- 
tinued, '  'Tis  surely  in  sweet  friendliness  I  ask.  Art  thou 
not  a  fair  youth,  one  to  entice  a  damsel  to  perfect  friend- 
liness? ' 

Louder  yet  did  he  groan  at  her  words,  thinking,  'A 
damsel,  verily!'  So  the  old  woman  said,  'I  wot  thou  art 
angry  with  me;  but  now  look  up,  0  nephew  of  the  barber! 
no  time  for  vexation.     What  says  the  poet? — 

"Cares  the  warrior  for  his  wounds 
WTien  the  steed  in  battle  bounds?" 

Moreover: 

"Let  him  who  grasps  the  crown  strip  not  for  shame, 
Lest  he  expose  what  gain'd  it — blow  and  maim!" 

So  be  it  with  thee  and  thy  thwacking,  0  foolish  youth! 
Hide  it  from  thyself,  thou  silly  one!  What!  thou  hast 
been  thwacked,  and  refusest  the  fruit  of  it— which  is  res- 
oluteness, strength  of  mind,  sternness  in  pursuit  of  the 
object!' 

Then  she  softened  her  tone  to  persuasiveness,  saying, 
"Twas  written  I  should  be  the  head  of  thy  fortune,  O 
Shibli  Bagarag!  and  thou  'It  be  enviable  among  men  by 
my  aid,  so  look  upon  me,  and  (for  I  know  thee  famished) 
thou  shalt  presently  be  supplied  vdih  viands  and  bright 
wines  and  sweetmeats,  delicacies  to  cheer  thee.' 

Now,  the  promise  of  food  and  provision  was  powerful 


16  THE  SfLVVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

with  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  he  looked  up  gloomily.  And 
the  old  woman  smiled  archly  at  him,  and  wriggled  in  her 
seat  like  a  dusty  worm,  and  said,  'Dost  thou  find  me 
charming,  thou  fair  youth?' 

He  was  nigh  laughing  in  her  face,  but  restrained  him- 
self to  reply,  'Thou  art  that  thou  ail!' 

Said  she,  '  Not  so,  but  that  I  shall  be. '  Then  she  said, 
'O  youth,  pay  me  now  a  comphment!' 

Shibli  Bagarag  was  at  a  loss  what  further  to  say  to  the 
old  woman,  for  his  heart  cursed  her  for  her  persecutions, 
and  ridiculed  her  for  her  vanities.  At  last  he  bethought 
himself  of  the  saying  of  the  poet,  truly  the  offspring  of 
fine  wit,  where  he  says: 

Expect  no  flatteries  from  me, 

While  I  am  empty  of  good  things; 
I'll  Ciill  thee  fair,  and  I'll  agree 

Thou  boldest  Love  in  silken  strings, 
Wlien  thou  hast  primed  me  from  thy  plenteous  store! 
But,  oh!  till  then  a  clod  am  I: 

No  seed  within  to  throw  up  flowers: 
All  's  drouthy  to  the  fountain  dry: 

To  empty  stomachs  Nature  lowers: 
The  lake  was  full  where  heaven  look'd  fair  of  yore! 

So,  when  he  had  spoken  that,  the  old  woman  laughed 
and  exclaimed,  'Thou  art  apt!  it  is  well  said!  Surely  I 
excuse  thee  till  that  time!  Now  listen!  'Tis  written  we 
work  together,  and  I  know  it  by  divination.  Have  I  not 
known  thee  wandering,  and  on  thy  way  to  this  city  of 
Shagpat,  where  thou  'It  some  day  sit  throned?  Now  I  pro- 
pose to  thee  this — and  'tis  an  excellent  proposal — that  I 
lead  thee  to  great  things,  and  make  thee  glorious,  a  sitter 
in  high  seats,  Master  of  an  Event?' 

Cried  he,  'A  proposal  honourable  to  thee,  and  pleasant 
in  the  ear. ' 


THE  THWACKINGS  17 

She  added,  '  Provided  thou  marry  me  in  sweet  marriage/ 

Thereat  he  stared  on  vacancy  with  a  serious  eye,  and  he 
could  scarce  credit  her  earnestness,  but  she  repeated  the 
same.  So  presently  he  thought,  'This  old  hag  appeareth 
deep  in  the  fountain  of  events,  and  she  will  be  a  right  arm 
to  me  in  the  mastering  of  one,  a  torch  in  darkness,  see- 
ing there  is  wisdom  in  her  as  well  as  wickedness.  The 
thwackings? — sad  was  their  taste,  but  they  're  in  the  road 
leading  to  greatness,  and  I  cannot  say  she  put  me  out  of 
that  road  in  putting  me  where  they  were.  Her  age? — shall 
I  complain  of  that  when  it  is  a  sign  she  goeth  shortly 
altogether? ' 

As  he  was  thus  debating  he  regarded  the  old  woman 
stealthily,  and  she  was  in  agitation,  so  that  her  joints 
creaked  like  forest  branches  in  a  wind,  and  the  puckers  of 
her  visage  moved  as  do  billows  of  the  sea  to  and  fro,  and 
the  anticipations  of  a  fair  young  bride  are  not  more  eager 
than  what  was  visible  in  the  old  woman.  Wheedlingly 
she  looked  at  him,  and  shaped  her  mouth  like  a  bird's 
bill  to  soften  it;  and  she  drew  together  her  dress,  to  give 
herself  the  look  of  slimness,  using  all  fascinations.  He 
thought,  "Tis  a  wondrous  old  woman!  Marriage  would 
seem  a  thing  of  moment  to  her,  yet  is  the  profit  with  me, 
and  I'll  agree  to  it.'  So  he  said,  "Tis  a  pact  between 
us,  0  old  woman!' 

Now,  the  eyes  of  the  old  woman  brightened  when  she 
heard  him,  and  were  as  the  eyes  of  a  falcon  that  eyeth 
game,  hungry  with  red  fire,  and  she  looked  brisk  with 
impatience,  laughing  a  low  laugh  and  saying,  '0  youth, 
I  must  claim  of  thee,  as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  the  kiss  of 
contract.' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  was  mindful  of  what  is  written, 

If  thou  wouldst  take  the  great  leap,  be  ready  for  the 
little  jump, 


18  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

and  he  stretched  out  his  mouth  to  the  forehead  of  the  old 
woman.  AVhen  he  had  done  so,  it  was  as  though  she  had 
been  illuminated,  as  when  light  is  put  in  the  hollow  of  a 
pumj)kin.  Then  said  she,  'This  is  well!  this  is  a  fair 
beginning!  Now  look,  for  thy  fortune  will  of  a  surety 
follow.  Call  me  now  sweet  bride,  and  knocker  at  the 
threshold  of  hearts!' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  sighed,  and  called  her  this,  and  he 
said,  'Forget  not  my  condition,  O  old  woman,  and  that 
I  am  nigh  famished.' 

Upon  that  she  nodded  gravely,  and  arose  and  shook  her 
garments  together,  and  beckoned  for  Shibli  Bagarag  to 
follow  her;  and  the  two  passed  through  the  gates  of  the 
city,  and  held  on  together  through  divers  streets  and 
thoroughfares  till  they  came  before  the  doors  of  a  palace 
with  a  pillared  entrance;  and  the  old  woman  passed  through 
the  doors  of  the  palace  as  one  familiar  to  them,  and  lo! 
they  were  in  a  lofty  court,  built  all  of  marble,  and  in  the 
middle  of  it  a  fountain  playing,  splashing  silvery.  Shibli 
Bagarag  w^ould  have  halted  here  to  breathe  the  cool  re- 
freshingness  of  the  air,  but  the  old  woman  would  not; 
and  she  hurried  on  even  to  the  opening  of  a  spacious  Hall, 
and  in  it  slaves  in  circle  round  a  raised  scat,  where  sat 
one  that  was  their  lord,  and  it  was  the  Chief  Vizier  of  the 
King. 

Then  the  old  woman  turned  round  sharply  to  Shibli 
Bagarag,  and  said,  'How  of  thy  tackle,  0  my  betrothed?' 

He  answered,  'The  edge  is  keen,  the  hand  ready.' 

Then  said  she,  "Tis  well.' 

So  the  old  woman  put  her  two  hands  on  the  shoulders  of 
Shibli  Bagarag,  sa>djig,  'Make  thy  reverence  to  him  on 
the  raised  seat;  have  faith  in  thy  tackle  and  in  me.  Re- 
nounce not  either,  whatsoever  ensueth.  Be  not  abashed, 
0  my  bridegroom  to  be!' 

Thereupon  she  thrust  him  in;   and  Shibli  Bagarag  was 


THE  THWACKINGS  19 

abashed,  and  played  foolishly  with  his  fingers,  knowing 
not  what  to  do.  So  when  the  Chief  Vizier  saw  him  he 
cried  out,  'Who  art  thou,  and  what  wantest  thou?' 

Now,  the  back  of  Shibli  Bagarag  tingled  when  he  heard 
the  Vizier's  voice,  and  he  said,  'I  am,  0  man  of  exalted 
condition,  he  whom  men  know  as  Shibli  Bagarag,  nephew 
to  Baba  Mustapha,  the  renowned  of  Shiraz ;  myself  barber 
likewise,  proud  of  my  art,  prepared  to  exercise  it.' 

Then  said  the  Chief  Vizier,  'This  even  to  our  faces! 
Wonderful  is  the  audacity  of  impudence!  Ivnow,  O  nephew 
of  the  barber,  thou  art  among  them  that  honour  not  thy 
art.  Is  it  not  written.  For  one  thing  thou  shalt  be  crowned 
here,  for  that  thing  be  thwacked  there?  So  also  it  is 
written.  The  tongue  of  the  insolent  one  is  a  lash  and  a  per- 
petual castigation  to  him.  And  it  is  written,  O  Shibli 
Bagarag,  that  I  reap  honour  from  thee,  and  there  is  no 
help  but  that  thou  be  made  an  example  of.' 

So  the  Chief  Vizier  uttered  command,  and  Shibli  Bagarag 
was  ware  of  the  power  of  five  slaves  upon  him;  and  they 
seized  him  familiarly,  and  placed  him  in  position,  and 
made  ready  his  clothing  for  the  reception  of  fifty  other 
thwacks  with  a  thong,  each  several  thwack  coming  down 
on  him  with  a  hiss,  as  it  were  a  serpent,  and  with  a  smack, 
as  it  were  the  mouth  of  satisfaction;  and  the  people  assem- 
bled extolled  the  Chief  Vizier,  saying,  'Well  and  valiantly 
done,  0  stay  of  the  State!  and  such-like  to  the  accursed 
race  of  barbers. ' 

Now,  when  they  had  passed  before  the  Chief  Vizier  and 
departed,  lo!  he  fell  to  laughing  violently,  so  that  his 
hair  was  agitated  and  was  as  a  sand-cloud  over  him,  and 
his  countenance  behmd  it  was  as  the  sun  of  the  desert 
reflected  ripplingly  on  the  waters  of  a  bubbling  spring, 
for  it  had  the  aspect  of  merriness;  and  the  Chief  Vizier 
exclaimed,  '0  Shibli  Bagarag,  have  I  not  made  fair 
show?' 


20  TIIK  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  'Excellent  fair  show,  O 
mighty  one!'  Yet  knew  he  not  in  what,  but  he  was  abject 
by  reason  of  the  thwacks. 

So  the  Vizier  said,  'Thou  lookcst  lean,  even  as  one  to 
whom  Fortune  owcth  a  long  debt.  Tell  me  now  of  thy 
barbercraft:   perchance  thy  gain  will  be  great  thereby?' 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  answered,  'My  gain  has  been  great, 
O  eminent  in  rank,  but  of  evil  quality,  and  I  am  content 
not  to  increase  it.'  And  he  broke  forth  into  lamentations, 
crying  in  excellent  verse: — 

Why  am  I  thus  the  sport  of  all — ■ 
A  thing  Fate  knocketh  like  a  ball 
From  point  to  point  of  evil  chance, 
Even  as  the  sneer  of  Circumstance? 
While  thirsting  for  the  highest  fame, 

I  hunger  like  the  lowest  beast: 
To  be  the  first  of  men  I  aim 

And  find  myself  the  least. 

Now,  the  Vizier  delayed  not  when  he  heard  this  to  have 
a  fair  supply  set  before  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  meats  dressed 
in  divers  fashioiLS,  spiced,  and  coloured,  and  with  herbs, 
and  wines  in  golden  goblets,  and  slaves  in  attendance.  So 
Shibli  Bagarag  ate  and  drank,  and  presently  his  soul  arose 
from  its  prostration,  and  he  cried,  'Wullahy!  the  head 
cook  of  King  Shamshurecn  could  have  worked  no  better  as 
regards  the  restorative  process. ' 

Then  said  the  Chief  Vizier,  'O  Shibli  Bagarag,  where 
now  is  thy  tackle?' 

And  Shil)li  Bagarag  winked  and  nodded  and  turned  his 
head  in  the  mamier  of  the  knowing  ones,  and  he  recited 
the  verse: 

'Tis  well  that  we  are  sometimes  circumspect, 
And  hold  ourselves  in  witless  ways  deterred: 


THE  THWACKINGS  21 

One  thwacking  made  me  seriously  reflect; 

A  SECOND  turned  the  cream  of  love  to  curd: 
Most  surely  that  profession  I  reject 

Before  the  fear  of  a  prospective  third. 

So  the  Vizier  said, '  'Tis  well,  thou  turnest  verse  neatly.' 
And  he  exclaimed  extemporaneously: 

If  thou  wouldst  have  thy  achievement  as  high 

As  the  wings  of  Ambition  can  fly: 
If  thou  the  clear  summit  of  hope  wouldst  attain, 

And  not  have  thy  labour  in  vain; 
Be  stedfast  in  that  which  impell'd,  for  the  peace 

Of  earth  he  who  leaves  must  have  trust: 
He  is  safe  while  he  soars,  but  when  faith  shall  cease, 

Desponding  he  drops  to  the  dust. 

Then  said  he,  'Fear  no  further  thwacking,  but  honour 
and  prosperity  in  the  place  of  it.     What  says  the  poet? — 

"We  faint,  when  for  the  fire 
There  needs  one  spark; 
We  droop,  when  our  desire 
Is  near  its  mark," 

How  near  to  it  art  thou,  0  Shibli  Bagarag!  Know,  then, 
that  among  this  people  there  is  great  reverence  for  the 
growing  of  hair,  and  he  that  is  hairiest  is  honoured  most, 
wherefore  are  barbers  creatures  of  especial  abhorrence, 
and  of  a  surety  flourish  not.  And  so  it  is  that  I  owe  my 
station  to  the  esteem  I  profess  for  the  cultivation  of  hair, 
and  to  my  persecution  of  the  clippers  of  it.  And  in  this 
kingdom  is  no  one  that  beareth  such  a  crop  as  I,  saving 
one,  a  clothier,  an  accursed  one! — and  may  a  blight  fall 
upon  him  for  his  vanity  and  his  affectation  of  solemn 
priestliness,  and  his  lolling  in  his  shop-front  to  be  admired 
and  marvelled  at  by  the  people.  So  this  fellow  I  would 
disgrace  and  bring  to  scorn, — this  Shagpat!  for  he  is  mine 


22  THI']  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

ontMiiy,  and  tlic  eye  of  the  King  my  master  is  on  him. 
Now  I  conceive  tliy  assistance  in  this  matter,  O  Shibli 
Bagarag, — tliou,  a  barber. ' 

When  ShibU  Bagarag  heard  mention  of  Shagpat,  and 
the  desire  for  vengeance  in  the  Vizier,  he  was  as  a  new 
man,  and  he  smelt  the  sweetness  of  his  own  revenge  as  a 
vulture  smelleth  the  carrion  from  afar,  and  he  said,  'I  am 
thy  servant,  thy  slave,  0  Vizier!'  Then  smiled  he  as  to 
his  own  soul,  and  he  exclaimed,  'On  my  head  be  it!' 

And  it  was  to  him  as  when  sudden  gusts  of  perfume 
from  garden  roses  of  the  valley  meet  the  traveller's  nostril 
on  the  hill  that  overlooketh  the  valley,  filling  him  with 
ecstasy  and  newness  of  life,  delicate  visions.  And  he 
cried,  'Wullahy!  this  is  fair;  this  is  well!  I  am  he  that 
was  appointed  to  do  thy  work,  0  man  in  ofl5ce!  What 
says  the  poet? — 

"The  destined  hand  doth  strike  the  fated  blow: 
Surely  the  arrow  's  fitted  to  the  bow!  " 

And  he  says: 

"The  feathered  seed  for  the  wind  dclayeth, 
The  wind  above  the  garden  swayeth, 
The  garden  of  its  burden  knoweth, 
The  burden  falleth,  sinketh,  soweth.'" 

So  the  Vizier  chuckled  and  nodded,  saying,  'Right, 
right!  aptly  spoken,  O  youth  of  favour!  'Tis  even  so, 
and  there  is  wisdom  in  what  is  written: 

"Chance  is  a  poor  knave; 
Its  own  sad  slave; 
Two  meet  that  were  to  meet: 
Life  's  no  cheat."  ' 

Upon  that  he  cried,  '  First  let  us  have  with  us  the  Eclipser 
of  Reason,  and  take  counsel  with  her,  as  is  my  custom. ' 


THE  THWACKINGS  23 

Now,  the  Vizier  made  signal  to  a  slave  in  attendance, 
and  the  slave  departed  from  the  Hall,  and  the  Vizier  led 
Shibli  Bagarag  into  a  closer  chamber,  which  had  a  smooth 
floor  of  inlaid  silver  and  silken  hangings,  the  windows 
looking  forth  on  the  gardens  of  the  palace  and  its  foun- 
tains and  cool  recesses  of  shade  and  temperate  sweetness. 
While  they  sat  there  conversing  in  this  metre  and  that, 
measuring  quotations,  lo!  the  old  woman,  the  affianced  of 
Shibli  Bagarag — and  she  sumptuously  arrayed,  in  perfect 
queenliness,  her  head  bound  in  a  circlet  of  gems  and  gold, 
her  figure  lustrous  with  a  full  robe  of  flowing  crimson  silk; 
and  she  wore  slippers  embroidered  with  golden  traceries, 
and  round  her  waist  a  girdle  flashing  with  jewels,  so  that 
to  look  on  she  was  as  a  long  falling  water  in  the  last  bright 
slant  of  the  sun.  Her  hair  hung  disarranged,  and  spread 
in  a  scattered  fashion  off  her  shoulders;  and  she  was 
younger  by  many  moons,  her  brow  smooth  where  Shibli 
Bagarag  had  given  the  kiss  of  contract,  her  hand  soft  and 
white  where  he  had  taken  it.  ShibH  Bagarag  was  smitten 
with  astonishment  at  sight  of  her,  and  he  thought,  '  Surely 
the  aspect  of  this  old  woman  would  realise  the  story  of 
Bhanavar  the  Beautiful;  and  it  is  a  story  marvellous  to 
think  of;  yet  how  great  is  the  likeness  between  Bhanavar 
and  this  old  woman  that  groweth  younger!' 

And  he  thought  again,  'What  if  the  story  of  Bhanavar 
be  a  true  one;  this  old  woman  such  as  she — no  other?' 

So,  while  he  considered  her,  the  Vizier  exclaimed,  *Is 
she  not  fair — my  daughter? ' 

And  the  youth  answered,  'She  is,  O  Vizier,  that  she  is!* 

But  the  Vizier  cried,  'Nay,  by  Allah!  she  is  that  she 
will  be.'  And  the  Vizier  said,  "Tis  she  that  is  my 
daughter;  tell  me  thy  thought  of  her,  as  thou  thinkest  it.' 

And  ShibH  Bagarag  repHed,  '0  Vizier,  my  thought  of 
her  is,  she  seemeth  indeed  as  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful — no 
other. ' 


24  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Then  the  Vizier  and  the  Eclipser  of  Reason  exclaimed 
together,  'How  of  Bhanavar  and  her  story,  0  youth? 
We  listen!' 

So  Shibli  Ragarag  leaned  slightly  on  a  cushion  of  a 
couch,  and  narrated  as  followeth. 


4 

THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  25 


AND  THIS  IS  THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR 
THE  BEAUTIFUL 


Know  that  at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  mountain  of  the  Caucasus 
there  lieth  a  deep  blue  lake;  near  to  this  lake  a  nest  of 
serpents,  wise  and  ancient.  Now,  it  was  the  habit  of  a 
damsel  to  pass  by  the  lake  early  at  morn,  on  her  way  from 
the  tents  of  her  tribe  to  the  pastures  of  the  flocks.  As  she 
pressed  the  white  arch  of  her  feet  on  the  soft  green-mossed 
grasses  by  the  shore  of  the  lake  she  would  let  loose  her 
hair,  looking  over  into  the  water,  and  bind  the  braid  again 
round  her  temples  and  behind  her  ears,  as  it  had  been  in  a 
lucent  mirror:  so  doing  she  would  laugh.  Her  laughter 
was  like  the  falls  of  water  at  moonrise;  her  loveliness  like 
the  very  moonrise;  and  she  was  stately  as  a  palm-tree 
standing  before  the  moon. 

This  was  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful. 

Now,  the  damsel  was  betrothed  to  the  son  of  a  neigh- 
bouring Emir,  a  youth  comely,  well-fashioned,  skilled 
with  the  bow,  apt  in  all  exercises;  one  that  sat  his  mare 
firm  as  the  trained  falcon  that  fixeth  on  the  plunging  bull 
of  the  plains;  fair  and  terrible  in  combat  as  the  lightning 
that  strideth  the  rolling  storm;  and  it  is  sung  by  the  poet: 

When  on  his  desert  mare  I  see 

My  prince  of  men, 

I  think  him  then 
As  high  above  humanity 
As  he  shines  radiant  over  me. 


J 

V 


26  ^THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Lo  !  like  a  torrent  lie  doth  bound, 
V  Breasting  the  shock 

*  From  rock  to  rock: 

A  j)illar  of  storm,  he  shakes  the  {around, 
His  turban  on  his  temples  wound. 


Match  me  for  worth  to  be  adored 

A  youth  like  him 

In  heart  and  limb  ! 
Swift  as  his  anger  is  his  sword; 
Softer  than  woman  his  true  word. 

Now,  the  love  of  this  youth  for  the  damsel  Bhanavar 
was  a  consuming  passion,  and  the  father  of  the  damsel 
and  the  father  of  the  youth  looked  fairly  on  the  prospect 
of  their  union,  w^hich  was  near,  and  was  plighted  as  the 
union  of  the  two  tribes.  So  they  met,  and  there  was  no 
voice  agaiiLst  their  meeting,  and  all  the  lo\'e  that  was  in 
them  they  were  free  to  pour  forth  far  from  the  hearing  of 
men,  even  where  they  would.  Before  the  rising  of  the 
sun,  and  ere  his  setting,  the  youth  rode  swiftly  from  the 
green  tents  of  the  Emir  his  father,  to  waylay  her  by  the 
waters  of  the  lake;  and  Bhanavar  was  there,  bending 
over  the  lake,  her  image  in  the  lake  glowing  like  the  fair 
fulness  of  the  moon;  and  the  youth  leaned  to  her  from 
his  steed,  and  sang  to  her  verses  of  her  great  loveliness 
ere  she  was  wistful  of  him.  Then  she  turned  to  him,  and 
laughed  lightly  a  welcome  of  sweetness,  and  shook  the 
falls  of  her  hair  across  the  blushes  of  her  face  and  her 
bosom;  and  he  folded  her  to  him,  and  those  two  would 
fondle  together  in  the  fashion  of  the  betrothed  ones  (the 
blessing  of  Allah  be  on  them  all!),  gazing  on  each  other 
till  their  eyes  swam  with  tears,  and  they  were  nigh  swoon- 
ing with  the  fulness  of  their  bliss.  Surely  'twas  an  inno- 
cent and  tender  dalliance,  and  their  prattle  was  that  of 
lovers  till  the  time  of  parting,  he  showing  her  how  she 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  27 

looked  best — she  him;  and  they  were  forgetful  of  all  else 
that  is,  in  their  sweet  interchange  of  flatteries;  and  the 
world  was  a  wilderness  to  them  both  when  the  youth  parted 
with  Bhanavar  by  the  brook  which  bounded  the  tents  of 
her  tribe. 

It  was  on  a  night  when  they  were  so  together,  the 
damsel  leaning  on  his  arm,  her  eyes  toward  the  lake,  and 
lo!  what  seemed  the  reflection  of  a  large  star  in  the  water; 
and  there  was  darkness  in  the  sky  above  it,  thick  clouds, 
and  no  sight  of  the  heavens;  so  she  held  her  face  to  him 
sideways  and  said,  '  What  meaneth  this,  0  my  betrothed  ? 
for  there  is  reflected  in  yonder  lake  a  light  as  of  a  star,  and 
there  is  no  star  visible  this  night. ' 

The  youth  trembled  as  one  in  trouble  of  spirit,  and 
exclaimed,  '  Look  not  on  it,  0  my  soul !  It  is  of  evil  omen. ' 

But  Bhanavar  kept  her  gaze  constantly  on  the  light,  and 
the  light  increased  in  lustre;  and  the  light  became,  from 
a  pale  sad  splendour,  dazzling  in  its  brilliancy.  Listen- 
ing, they  heard  presently  a  gurgling  noise  as  of  one  deeply 
drinking.  Then  the  youth  sighed  a  heavy  sigh  and  said, 
'This  is  the  Serpent  of  the  Lake  drinking  of  its  waters, 
as  is  her  wont  once  every  moon,  and  whoso  heareth  her 
drink  by  the  sheening  of  that  light  is  under  a  destiny  dark 
and  imminent;  so  know  I  my  days  are  numbered,  and  it 
was  foretold  of  me,  this!'  Now  the  youth  sought  to  dis- 
suade Bhanavar  from  gazing  on  the  light,  and  he  flung  his 
whole  body  before  her  eyes,  and  clasped  her  head  upon  his 
breast,  and  clung  about  her,  caressing  her;  yet  she  slipped 
from  him,  and  she  cried,  'Tell  me  of  this  serpent,  and  of 
this  light.' 

So  he  said,  '  Seek  not  to  hear  of  it,  0  my  betrothed ! ' 

Then  she  gazed  at  the  light  a  moment  more  intently, 
and  turned  her  fair  shape  toward  him,  and  put  up  her  long 
white  fingers  to  his  chin,  and  smoothed  him  with  their 
softness,  whispering,  '  Tell  me  of  it,  my  life ! ' 


28  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

And  so  it  was  that  her  winningness  melted  him,  and  he 
said,  'O  Bhanavar!  the  serpent  is  the  Serpent  of  the  Lake; 
old,  wise,  powerful;  of  the  brood  of  the  sacred  mountain, 
that  lifteth  l)y  day  a  peak  of  gold,  and  by  night  a  point 
of  solitary  silver.  In  her  head,  upon  her  forehead,  be- 
tween her  eyes,  there  is  a  Jewel,  and  it  is  this  light. ' 

Then  she  said,  'How  came  the  Jewel  there,  in  such  a 
place?' 

lie  answered,  "Tis  the  growth  of  one  thousand  years 
in  the  head  of  the  serpent. ' 

She  cried,  'Surely  precious?' 

He  answered,  '  Beyond  price ! ' 

As  he  spake  the  tears  streamed  from  him,  and  he  was 
shaken  with  grief,  but  she  noted  nought  of  this,  and  w^atched 
the  wonder  of  the  light,  and  its  increasing,  and  quivering, 
and  lengthening;  and  the  light  was  as  an  arrow  of  beams 
and  as  a  globe  of  radiance.  Desire  for  the  Jewel  waxed 
in  her,  and  she  had  no  sight  but  for  it  alone,  crying,  '  'Tis 
a  Jewel  exceeding  in  preciousness  all  jewels  that  are,  and 
for  the  possessing  it  would  I  forfeit  all  that  is. ' 

So  he  said  sorrowfully,  '  Our  love,  0  Bhanavar  ?  and  our 
hopes  of  espousal?' 

But  she  cried,  'No  question  of  that!  Prove  now  thy 
passion  for  me,  O  warrior!  and  win  for  me  that  Jewel.' 

Then  he  })leaded  with  her,  and  exclaimed,  'Urge  not 
this!  The  winning  of  the  Jewel  is  worth  my  life;  and  my 
life,  O  Bhanavar — surely  its  breath  is  but  the  love  of  thee.' 

So  she  said,  'Thou  fearest  a  risk?' 

And  he  replied,  'Little  fear  I;  my  life  is  thine  to  cast 
away.  This  Jewel  it  is  evil  to  have,  and  evil  foUoweth  the 
soul  that  hath  it.' 

Upon  that  she  cried,  '  A  trick  to  cheat  me  of  the  Jewel ! 
thy  love  is  wanting  at  the  proof. ' 

And  she  taunted  the  youth  her  betrothed,  and  turned 
from  him,  and  hardened  at  his  tenderness,  and  made  her 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  29 

sweet  shape  as  a  thorn  to  his  caressing,  and  his  heart  was 
charged  with  anguish  for  her.  So  at  the  last,  when  he 
had  wept  a  space  in  silence,  he  cried,  'Thou  hast  willed 
it;  the  Jewel  shall  be  thine,  0  my  soul!' 

Then  said  he,  'Thou  hast  willed  it,  0  Bhanavar!  and 
my  life  is  as  a  grain  of  sand  weighed  against  thy  wishes; 
Allah  is  my  witness!  Meet  me  therefore  here,  0  my  be- 
loved, at  the  end  of  one  quarter-moon,  even  beneath  the 
shadow  of  this  palm-tree,  by  the  lake,  and  at  this  hour, 
and  I  will  deliver  into  thy  hands  the  Jewel.  So  farewell! 
Wind  me  once  about  with  thine  arms,  that  I  may  take 
comfort  from  thee.' 

When  their  kiss  was  over  the  youth  led  her  silently  to 
the  brook  of  their  parting — the  clear,  cold,  bubbling  brook 
— and  passed  from  her  sight;  and  the  damsel  was  exult- 
ing, and  leapt  and  made  circles  in  her  glee,  and  she  danced 
and  rioted  and  sang,  and  clapped  her  hands,  crying,  '  If  I 
am  now  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful  how  shall  I  be  when  that 
Jewel  is  upon  me,  the  bright  light  which  beameth  in  the 
darkness,  and  needeth  to  light  it  no  other  light?  Surely 
there  will  be  envy  among  the  maidens  and  the  widows, 
and  my  name  and  the  odour  of  my  beauty  will  travel  to 
the  courts  of  far  kings.' 

So  was  she  jubilant;  and  her  sisters  that  met  her  mar- 
velled at  her  and  the  deep  glow  that  was  upon  her,  even  as 
the  glow  of  the  Great  Desert  when  the  sun  has  fallen;  and 
they  said  among  themselves,  '  She  is  covered  all  over  with 
the  blush  of  one  that  is  a  bride,  and  the  bridegroom's  kiss 
yet  burneth  upon  Bhanavar!' 

So  they  undressed  her  and  she  lay  among  them,  and  was 
all  night  even  as  a  bursting  rose  in  a  vase  filled  with  droop- 
ing hlies;  and  one  of  the  maidens  that  put  her  hand  on 
the  left  breast  of  Bhanavar  felt  it  full,  and  the  heart  be- 
neath it  panting  and  beating  swifter  than  the  ground  is 
struck  by  hooves  of  the  chosen  steed  sent  by  the  Chieftain 


30  THE   SHAVING   OF  SHAGPAT 

to  the  city  of  his  })oople  with  news  of  victory  and  the 
summons  for  rojoicinfi;. 

Now,  the  nights  and  the  days  of  Rhanavar  were  even 
as  this  night,  and  she  was  as  an  un(|uiet  soul  till  the  ap- 
j)ointed  time  for  the  meeting  with  her  lover  had  come. 
Then  when  the  sun  was  lighting  with  slant  beam  the  green 
grass  slope  by  the  blue  brook  before  her,  Bhanavar  arrayed 
hei'self  and  went  forth  gaily,  as  a  martial  queen  to  certain 
conquest ;  and  of  all  the  flowers  that  nodded  to  the  setting, 
— yea,  the  crimson,  purple,  pure  white,  streaked-yellow, 
azure,  and  saffron,  there  was  no  flower  fairer  in  its  hues 
than  Bhanavar,  nor  bird  of  the  heavens  freer  in  its  glitter- 
ing plumage,  nor  shape  of  loveliness  such  as  hers.  Truly, 
when  she  had  taken  her  place  under  the  palm  by  the  waters 
of  the  lake,  that  was  no  exaggeration  of  the  poet,  where  he 
says: 

Snows  of  the  mountain-peaks  were  mirror'd  there 
Beneath  her  feet,  not  whiter  than  they  were; 
Not  rosier  in  the  white,  that  falling  flush 
Broad  on  the  wave,  than  in  her  cheek  the  blush. 

And  again: 

She  draws  the  heavens  down  to  her, 

So  rare  she  is,  so  fair  she  is; 
They  flutter  with  a  crown  to  her, 

And  lighten  only  where  she  is. 

And  ho  exclaims,  in  verse  that  applieth  to  her: 

Excjuisite  slcnderness! 
Sleek  little  antelope! 
Serpent  of  sweetness! 
Eagle  that  soaringly 
Wins  nic  adoringly! 
Teach  nie  thy  fleetness, 
Vision  of  loveliness; 
Turn  to  my  tenderness! 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  31 

Now,  when  the  sun  was  lost  to  earth,  and  all  was  dark- 
ness, Bhanavar  fixed  her  eyes  upon  an  opening  arch  of  foli- 
age in  the  glade  through  which  the  youth  her  lover  should 
come  to  her,  and  clasped  both  hands  across  her  bosom,  so 
shaken  was  she  with  eager  longing  and  expectation.  In 
her  hunger  for  his  approach,  she  would  at  whiles  pluck  up 
the  herbage  about  her  by  the  roots,  and  toss  handfuls  this 
way  and  that,  chiding  the  peaceful  song  of  the  nightbird 
in  the  leaves  above  her  head;  and  she  was  sinking  with 
fretf ulness,  when  lo !  from  the  opening  arch  of  the  glade  a 
sudden  light,  and  Bhanavar  knew  it  for  the  Jewel  in  the 
fingers  of  her  betrothed,  by  the  strength  of  its  effulgence. 
Then  she  called  to  him  joyfully  a  cry  of  welcome,  and 
quickened  his  coming  with  her  calls,  and  the  youth  alighted 
from  his  mare  and  left  it  to  pasture,  and  advanced  to  her, 
holding  aloft  the  Jewel.  And  the  Jewel  was  of  great  size 
and  purity,  round,  and  all-luminous,  throwing  rays  and 
beams  everywhere  about  it,  a  miracle  to  behold, — the  light 
in  it  shining,  and  as  the  very  life  of  the  blood,  a  sweet 
crimson,  a  ruby,  a  softer  rose,  an  amethyst  of  tender  hues : 
it  was  a  full  globe  of  splendours,  showing  like  a  very  king- 
dom of  the  Blest;  and  blessed  was  the  eye  beholding  it! 
So  when  he  was  within  reach  of  her  arm,  the  damsel  sprang 
to  him  and  caught  from  his  hand  the  Jewel,  and  held  it 
before  her  eyes,  and  danced  with  it,  and  pressed  it  on  her 
bosom,  and  was  as  a  creature  giddy  with  great  joy  in  pos- 
sessing it.  And  she  put  the  Jewel  in  her  bosom,  and  looked 
on  the  youth  to  thank  him  for  the  Jewel  with  all  her  beauty; 
for  the  passion  of  a  mighty  pride  in  him  who  had  won  for 
her  the  Jewel  exalted  Bhanavar,  and  she  said  sweetly, 
'Now  hast  thou  proved  to  me  thy  love  of  me,  and  I  am 
thine,  0  my  betrothed, — wholly  thine.  Kiss  me,  then,  and 
cease  not  kissing  me,  for  bliss  is  in  me. ' 

But  the  youth  eyed  her  sorrowfully,  even  as  one  that 
hath  great  yearning,  and  no  power  to  move  or  speak. 


32  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

So  she  said  again,  in  the  low  melody  of  deep  love-tones, 
'Kiss  nie,  0  my  lover!  for  I  desire  thy  kiss.' 

Still  he  spake  not,  and  was  as  a  pillar  of  stone. 

And  she  started,  and  cried,  'Thou  art  whole?  without  a 
hurt  ? '  Then  sought  she  to  coax  him  to  her  with  all  the 
softness  of  her  half-closed  eyes  and  budded  lips,  saying, 
"Twas  an  idle  fear!  and  I  have  thee,  and  thou  art  mine, 
and  I  am  thine;  so  speak  to  me,  my  lover!  for  there  is  no 
music  like  the  music  of  thy  voice,  and  the  absence  of  it  is 
the  absence  of  all  sweetness,  and  there  is  no  pleasure  in 
life  without  it.' 

So  the  tenderness  of  her  fondluig  melted  the  silence  in 
him,  and  presently  his  tongue  was  loosed,  and  he  breathed 
in  pain  of  spirit,  and  his  words  were  the  words  of  the 
proverb : 

He  that  fighteth  with  poison  is  no  match  for  the  prick  of 
a  thorn. 

And  he  said,  'Surely,  O  Bhanavar,  my  love  for  thee  sur- 
passeth  what  is  told  of  others  that  have  loved  before  us, 
and  I  count  no  loss  a  loss  that  is  for  thy  sake.'  And  he 
sighed,  and  sang: 

Sadder  than  is  the  moon's  lost  light, 

Lost  ere  the  kindlinfj  of  dawn. 

To  travellers  journeying  on, 
The  shutting  of  thy  fair  face  from  my  sight. 

Might  I  look  on  thee  in  death, 

With  bliss  I  would  yield  my  breath. 

Oh  !  what  warrior  dies 
With  heaven  in  his  eyes? 
O  Hhanavur!  too  rich  a  prize! 
The  life  of  my  nostrils  art  thou, 
The  bahn-dew  on  my  brow; 
Thou  art  the  perfume  I  meet  as  I  speed  o'er  the  plains, 
The  strength  of  my  arras,  the  blood  of  my  veins. 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  33 

Then  said  he,  *I  make  nothing  matter  of  complaint, 
Allah  witnesseth!  not  even  the  long  parting  from  her  I 
love.  What  will  be,  will  be:  so  was  it  written!  'Tis  but 
a  scratch,  0  my  soul !  yet  am  I  of  the  dead  and  them  that 
are  passed  away.  'Tis  hard;  but  I  smile  in  the  face  of 
bitterness.' 

Now,  at  his  words  the  damsel  clutched  him  \\dth  both 
her  hands,  and  the  blood  went  from  her,  and  she  was  as  a 
block  of  white  marble,  even  as  one  of  those  we  meet  in  the 
desert,  leaning  together,  marking  the  wrath  of  the  All- 
powerful  on  forgotten  cities.  And  the  tongue  of  the  dam- 
sel was  dry,  and  she  was  without  speech,  gazing  at  him 
with  \side-open  eyes,  like  one  in  trance.  Then  she  started 
as  a  dreamer  wakeneth,  and  flung  herself  quickly  on  the 
breast  of  the  youth,  and  put  up  the  sleeve  from  his  arm, 
and  beheld  by  the  beams  of  the  quarter-crescent  that  had 
risen  through  the  leaves,  a  small  bite  on  the  arm  of  the 
youth  her  betrothed,  spotted  with  seven  spots  of  blood  in 
a  crescent ;  so  she  knew  that  the  poison  of  the  serpent  had 
entered  by  that  bite;  and  she  loosened  herself  to  the  vio- 
lence of  her  anguish,  shrieking  the  shrieks  of  despair,  so 
that  the  voice  of  her  lamentation  was  multipUed  about 
and  made  many  voices  in  the  night.  Her  spirit  returned 
not  to  her  till  the  crescent  of  the  moon  was  yellow  to  its 
fall;  and  lo!  the  youth  was  sighing  heavy  sighs  and  lean- 
ing to  the  ground  on  one  elbow,  and  she  flung  herself  by 
him  on  the  ground,  seeking  for  herbs  that  were  antidotes 
to  the  poison  of  the  serpent,  groveUing  among  the  grasses 
and  strewn  leaves  of  the  wood,  peering  at  them  tearfully 
by  the  pale  beams,  and  startling  the  insects  as  she  moved. 
When  she  had  gathered  some,  she  pressed  them  and 
bruised  them,  and  laid  them  along  his  lips,  that  were 
white  as  the  ball  of  an  eye;  and  she  made  him  drink  drops 
of  the  juices  of  the  herbs,  wailing  and  swaying  her  body 
across  him,  as  one  that  seeketh  vainly  to  give  brightness 


34  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

again  to  the  flames  of  a  dying  fire.  But  now  his  time  was 
drawing  nigli,  and  he  was  weak,  and  took  her  hand  in  his 
and  gazed  on  her  face,  sighing,  and  said,  'There  is  nothing 
shall  keep  me  by  thcc  now,  O  my  betrothed,  my  beautiful! 
Weep  not,  for  it  is  the  doing  of  fate,  and  not  thy  doing. 
So  ere  I  go,  and  the  grave-cloth  separates  thy  heart  from 
my  heart,  listen  to  me.  Lo,  that  Jewel!  it  is  the  giver  of 
years  and  of  powers,  and  of  loveliness  beyond  mortal,  yet 
the  wearing  of  it  availeth  not  in  the  pursuit  of  happiness. 
Xow  art  thou  Queen  over  the  serpents  of  this  lake:  it  was 
the  Queen-serpent  I  slew,  and  her  vengeance  is  on  me 
here.  Now  art  thou  mighty,  0  Bhanavar!  and  look  to  do 
well  by  thy  tribe,  and  that  from  which  I  spring,  recom- 
pensing my  father  for  his  loss,  pouring  ointment  on  his 
affliction,  for  great  is  the  grief  of  the  old  man,  and  he 
lovcth  me,  and  is  childless.' 

Then  the  youth  fell  back  and  was  still;  and  Bhanavar 
put  her  ear  to  his  mouth,  and  heard  what  seemed  an  inner 
voice  murmuring  in  him,  and  it  was  of  his  infancy  and  his 
boyhood,  and  of  his  father  the  Emir's  first  gift  to  him,  his 
horse  Zoora,  in  old  times.  Presently  the  youth  revived 
somewhat,  and  looked  upon  her;  but  his  sight  was  glazed 
with  a  film,  and  she  sang  her  name  to  him  ere  he  knew 
her,  and  the  sad  sweetness  of  her  name  filled  his  soul,  and 
he  replied  to  her  with  it  weakly,  like  a  far  echo  that  grow- 
eth  fainter,  'Bhanavar!  Bhanavar!  Bhanavar!'  Then 
a  change  came  over  him,  and  the  pain  of  the  poison  and 
the  passion  of  the  death-throe,  and  he  was  wistful  of  her 
no  more;  but  she  lay  by  him,  embracing  him,  and  in  the 
last  violence  of  his  anguish  he  hugged  her  to  his  breast. 
Then  it  was  over,  and  he  sank.  And  the  twain  were  as  a 
great  wave  heaving  upon  the  shore;  lo,  part  is  wasted  where 
it  falleth ;  i)art  draweth  back  into  the  waters.     So  was  it! 

Now  the  chill  of  dawn  breathed  blue  on  the  lake  and 
was  astir  among  the   dewy  leaves   of  the  wood,   when 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  35 

Bhanavar  arose  from  the  body  of  the  youth,  and  as  she 
rose  she  saw  that  his  mare  Zoora,  his  father's  first  gift, 
was  snuffing  at  the  ear  of  her  dead  master,  and  pawing 
him.  At  that  sight  the  tears  poured  from  her  eyehds, 
and  she  sobbed  out  to  the  mare,  *0  Zoora!  never  mare 
bore  nobler  burden  on  her  back  than  thou  in  Zurvan  my 
betrothed.  Zoora!  thou  weepest,  for  death  is  first  known 
to  thee  in  the  dearest  thing  that  was  thine ;  as  to  me,  in  the 
dearest  that  was  mine!  And  0  Zoora,  steed  of  Zurvan 
my  betrothed,  there's  no  lovehness  for  us  in  fife,  for  the 
loveHest  is  gone;  and  let  us  die,  Zoora,  mare  of  Zurvan 
my  betrothed,  for  what  is  dying  to  us,  O  Zoora,  who 
cherish  beyond  all  that  which  death  has  taken?' 

So  spake  she  to  Zoora  the  mare,  kissing  her,  and  run- 
ning her  fingers  through  the  long  white  mane  of  the  mare. 
Then  she  stooped  to  the  body  of  her  betrothed,  and  toiled 
with  it  to  lift  it  across  the  crimson  saddle-cloth  that  was 
on  the  back  of  Zoora;  and  the  mare  knelt  to  her,  that  she 
might  lay  on  her  back  the  body  of  Zurvan;  when  that  was 
done,  Bhanavar  paced  beside  Zoora  the  mare,  weeping 
and  caressing  her,  reminding  her  of  the  deeds  of  Zurvan, 
and  the  battles  she  had  borne  him  to,  and  his  greatness  and 
his  gentleness.  And  the  mare  went  without  leading.  It 
was  broad  light  when  they  had  passed  the  glade  and  the 
covert  of  the  wood.  Before  them,  between  great  moun- 
tains, glimmered  a  space  of  rolling  grass  fed  to  deep  green- 
ness by  many  brooks.  The  shadow  of  a  mountain  was 
over  it,  and  one  slant  of  the  rising  sun,  down  a  glade  of  the 
mountain,  touched  the  green  tent  of  the  Emir,  where  it 
stood  a  little  apart  from  the  others  of  his  tribe.  Goats 
and  asses  of  the  tribe  were  pasturing  in  the  quiet,  but  save 
them  nothing  moved  among  the  tents,  and  it  was  deep 
peacefulness.  Bhanavar  led  Zoora  slowly  before  the  tent 
of  the  Emir,  and  disburdened  Zoora  of  the  helpless  weight, 
and  spread  the  long  fair  limbs  of  the  youth  lengthwise 


36  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

across  the  threshold  of  the  Emir's  tent,  sitting  away  from 
it  with  clasped  hands,  regarding  it.  Ere  long  the  Emir 
came  forth,  and  his  foot  was  on  the  body  of  his  son,  and  he 
knew  death  on  the  chin  and  the  eyes  of  Zurvan,  his  sole 
son.  Now  the  Emir  was  old,  and  with  the  shock  of  that 
sight  the  world  darkened  before  him,  and  he  gave  forth  a 
groan  and  stumbled  over  the  sunken  breast  of  Zurvan, 
and  stretched  over  him  as  one  without  life.  When  Bha- 
navar  saw  that  old  man  stretched  over  the  body  of  his 
son,  she  sickened,  and  her  ear  was  filled  with  the  wailings 
of  grief  that  would  arise,  and  she  stood  up  and  stole  away 
from  the  habitations  of  the  tribe,  stricken  with  her  guilt, 
and  wandered  beyond  the  mountains,  knowing  not  whither 
she  went,  looking  on  no  living  thing,  for  the  sight  of  a 
thing  that  moved  was  hateful  to  her,  and  all  sounds  were 
sounds  of  lamentation  for  a  great  loss. 

Now,  she  had  wandered  on  alone  two  days  and  two 
nights,  and  nigh  morn  she  was  seized  with  a  swoon  of 
weariness,  and  fell  forward  with  her  face  to  the  earth,  and 
lay  there  prostrate,  even  as  one  that  is  adoring  the  shrine; 
and  it  was  on  the  sands  of  the  desert  she  was  lying.  It 
chanced  that  the  Chieftain  of  a  desert  tribe  passed  at 
midday  by  the  spot,  and  seeing  the  figure  of  a  damsel  un- 
shadcr'  by  any  shade  of  tree  or  herb  or  tent-covering,  and 
prostrate  on  the  sands,  he  reined  his  steed  and  leaned  for- 
ward to  her,  and  called  to  her.  Then  as  she  answered 
nothing  he  dismounted,  and  thrust  his  arm  softly  beneath 
her  and  lifted  her  gently;  and  her  swoon  had  the  white- 
ness of  death,  so  that  he  thought  her  dead  verily,  and  the 
marvel  of  her  great  loveliness  in  death  smote  the  heart  on 
his  ribs  as  with  a  blow,  and  the  powcns  of  life  went  from 
him  a  moment  as  he  looked  on  her  and  the  long  dark  wet 
lashes  that  clung  to  her  colourless  face,  as  at  night  in 
groves  where  the  betrothed  ones  wander,  the  slender 
leaves  of  the  acacia  spread  darkly  over  the  full  moon. 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  37 

And  he  cried,  '  'Tis  a  loveliness  that  maketh  the  soul  yearn 
to  the  cold  bosom  of  death,  so  lovely,  exceeding  all  that 
liveth,  is  she!' 

After  he  had  contemplated  her  longwhile,  he  snatched 
his  sight  from  her,  and  swung  her  swiftly  on  the  back  of 
his  mare,  and  leaned  her  on  one  arm,  and  sped  westward 
over  the  sands  of  the  desert,  halting  not  till  he  was  in  the 
hum  of  many  tents,  and  the  sun  of  that  day  hung  a  red 
half-circle  across  the  sand.  He  alighted  before  the  tent 
of  his  mother,  and  sent  women  in  to  her.  When  his 
mother  came  forth  to  the  greetings  of  her  son,  he  said  no 
word,  but  pointed  to  the  damsel  where  he  had  leaned  her 
at  the  threshold  of  her  tent.  His  mother  kissed  him  on 
the  forehead,  and  turned  her  shoulder  to  peer  upon  the 
damsel.  But  when  she  had  close  view  of  Bhanavar,  she 
spat,  and  scattered  her  hair,  and  stamped,  and  cried 
aloud,  'Away  with  her!  this  slut  of  darkness!  there's 
poison  on  her  very  skirts,  and  evil  in  the  look  of  her.' 

Then  said  he,  'O  Rukrooth,  my  mother!  art  thou  lost 
to  charity  and  the  uses  of  kindliness  and  the  laws  of  hos- 
pitality, that  thou  talkest  this  of  the  damsel,  a  stranger? 
Take  her  now  in,  and  if  she  be  past  help,  as  I  fear,  be  it 
thy  care  to  give  her  decent  burial;  and  if  she  live,  0  my 
mother,  tend  her  for  the  love  of  thy  son,  and  for  the  love 
of  him  be  gentle  with  her.' 

While  he  spake,  Rukrooth  his  mother  knelt  over  the 
damsel,  as  a  cat  that  sniff eth  the  suspected  dish;  and  she 
flashed  her  eyes  back  on  him,  exclaiming  scornfully,  'So 
art  thou  befooled,  and  the  poison  is  already  in  thee!  But 
I  will  not  have  her,  0  my  son!  and  thou,  Ruark,  my  son, 
neither  shalt  thou  have  her.  What!  will  I  not  die  to  save 
thee  from  a  harm  ?  Surely  thy  frown  is  little  to  me,  my 
son,  if  I  save  thee  from  a  harm;  and  the  damsel  here  is 
— I  shudder  to  think  what;  but  never  lay  shadow  across 
my  threshold  dark  as  this!' 


38  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Now,  Ruark  gazed  upon  his  mother,  and  upon  Bhanavar, 
and  the  face  of  Bhanavar  was  as  a  l)abe  in  sleep,  and  his 
soul  melted  to  the  parted  sweetness  of  her  soft  little  curved 
red  lips  and  her  closed  eyelids,  and  her  innocent  open 
hands,  where  she  lay  at  the  threshold  of  the  tent,  uncon- 
scious of  hardness  and  the  sayings  of  the  unjust.  So  he 
cried  fiercely,  'No  paltering,  0  Rukrooth,  my  mother: 
and  if  not  to  thy  tent,  then  to  mine!' 

When  she  heard  him  say  that  in  the  voice  of  his  anger, 
Rukrooth  fixed  her  eyes  on  him  sorrowfully,  and  sighed, 
antl  went  up  to  him  and  drew  his  head  once  against  her 
heart,  and  retreated  into  the  tent,  bidding  the  women  that 
were  there  bring  in  the  body  of  the  damsel. 

It  was  the  morning  of  another  day  when  Bhanavar 
awoke;  and  she  awoke  in  a  dream  of  Zoora,  the  mare  of 
Zurvan  her  betrothed,  that  was  dead,  and  the  name  of 
Zoora  was  on  her  tongue  as  she  started  up.  She  was  on  a 
couch  of  silk  and  leopard-skins;  at  her  feet  a  fair  young 
girl  with  a  fan  of  pheasant  feathers.  She  stared  at  the 
hangings  of  the  tent,  which  were  richer  than  those  of  her 
own  tribe;  the  cloths,  and  the  cushions,  and  the  embroid- 
eries; and  the  strangeness  of  all  was  pain  to  her,  she  knew 
not  why.  Then  wept  she  bitterly,  and  with  her  tears  the 
memory  of  what  had  been  came  back  to  her,  and  she 
opened  her  arms  to  take  into  them  the  little  girl  that 
fanned  her,  that  she  might  love  something  and  be  beloved 
awhile;  and  the  cliild  sobbed  with  her.  After  a  time 
Bhanavar  said,  'Where  am  I,  and  amongst  whom,  my 
child,  my  sister?' 

.\nd  the  child  answered  her,  'Surely  in  the  tent  of  the 
mother  of  Ruark,  the  chief,  even  chief  of  the  Beni-Asser, 
and  he  found  thee  in  the  desert,  nigh  dead.  'Tis  so;  and 
this  morning  will  Ruark  l)e  gone  to  meet  the  challenge  of 
Ebn  Asrac,  and  (hey  will  fight  at  the  foot  of  the  Snow 
Mountains,  and  the  shadow  of  yonder  datc-i)alm  will  be 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  39 

over  our  tent  here  at  the  hour  they  fight,  and  I  shall  sing 
for  Ruark,  and  kneel  here  in  the  darkness  of  the  shadow.' 

While  the  child  was  speaking  there  entered  to  them  a 
tall  aged  woman,  with  one  swathe  of  a  turban  across  her 
long  level  brows;  and  she  had  hard  black  eyes,  and  close 
lips  and  a  square  chin;  and  it  was  the  mother  of  Ruark. 
She  strode  forward  toward  Bhanavar  to  greet  her,  and 
folded  her  legs  before  the  damsel.  Presently  she  said, 
'Tell  me  thy  story,  and  of  thy  coming  into  the  hands  of 
Ruark  my  son-. ' 

Bhanavar  shuddered.  So  Rukrooth  dismissed  the  little 
maiden  from  the  chamber  of  the  tent,  and  laid  her  left 
hand  on  one  arm  of  Bhanavar,  and  said,  'I  would  know 
whence  comest  thou,  that  we  may  deal  well  by  thee  and 
thy  people  that  have  lost  thee.' 

The  touch  of  a  hand  was  as  the  touch  of  a  corpse  to 
Bhanavar,  and  the  damsel  was  constrained  to  speak  by  a 
power  she  knew  not  of,  and  she  told  all  to  Rukrooth  of 
what  had  been,  the  great  misery,  and  the  wickedness  that 
was  hers.  Then  Ruark's  mother  took  hold  of  Bhanavar 
a  strong  grasp,  and  eyed  her  long,  piteously,  and  with  re- 
proach, and  rocked  forward  and  back,  and  kept  rocking  to 
and  fro,  crying  at  intervals,  '0  Ruark!  my  son!  my  son! 
this  feared  I,  and  thou  art  not  the  first!  and  I  saw  it,  I 
saw  it!  Well-away!  why  came  she  in  thy  way, — why, 
Ruark,  my  son,  my  fire-eye  ?  Canst  thou  be  saved  by  me, 
fated  that  thou  art,  thou  fair-face?  And  wilt  thou  be 
saved  by  me,  my  son,  ere  thy  story  be  told  in  tears  as  this 
one,  that  is  as  thine  to  me  ?  And  thou  wilt  seize  a  jewel, 
Ruark,  0  thou  soul  of  wrath,  my  son,  my  dazzlmg  Chief, 
and  seize  it  to  wear  it,  and  think  it  bhss,  this  lovely  jewel; 
but  'tis  an  anguish  endless  and  for  ever,  my  son!  Woe's 
me!  an  anguish  is  she  without  end.' 

Rukrooth  continued  moaning,  and  the  thought  that  was 
in  the  mother  of  Ruark  struck  Bhanavar  like  a  light  in 


40  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

the  land  of  despair  that  tUirkly  illiiniineth  the  dreaded 
guLfs  and  abysses  of  the  land,  and  she  knew  herself  black 
in  evil;  and  the  scourge  of  her  guilt  was  uj)on  her,  and 
she  cursed  herself  before  Rukrooth,  and  fawned  before 
her,  abasing  her  body.  So  Rukrootli  wa^  drawn  to  the 
damsel  by  the  violence  of  her  self-accusing  and  her  aban- 
donment to  grief,  and  lifted  her,  and  comforted  her,  and 
after  awhile  they  had  gentle  speech  together,  and  the  two 
women  opened  their  hearts  and  wept.  Then  it  was  agreed 
between  tliem  that  Bhanavar  should  depart  from  tlie 
encampment  of  the  tribe  before  the  return  of  Ruai'k,  and 
seek  shelter  among  her  own  people  again,  and  aid  them 
and  the  tribe  of  Zurvan,  her  betrothed,  by  the  might  of 
the  Jewel  which  was  hers,  fulfilling  the  desire  of  Zurvan. 
The  mind  of  the  damsel  was  lowly,  and  her  soul  yearned 
for  the  blessing  of  Rukrooth. 

Darkness  hung  over  the  tent  from  the  shadow  of  the 
date-palm  when  Bhanavar  departed,  and  the  blessing  of 
Rukrooth  was  on  her  head.  She  went  forth  fairly  mounted 
on  a  fresh  steed ;  beside  her  two  warriors  of  them  that  were 
left  to  guard  the  encampment  of  the  tribe  of  Ruark  in 
his  absence;  and  Rukrooth  watched  at  the  threshold  of 
her  tent  for  the  coming  of  Ruark. 

When  it  was  middle  night,  and  the  splendour  of  the 
moon  was  beaming  on  the  edge  of  the  desert,  Bhanavar 
alighted  to  rest  by  the  twigs  of  a  tamarisk  that  stood  singly 
on  the  sands.  The  two  warriors  tied  the  fetlocks  of  their 
st(^eds,  and  spread  shawls  for  her,  and  watched  over  her 
while  she  slej)t.  And  the  damsel  dreamed,  and  the  roar- 
ing of  the  lion  was  hoarse  in  her  dream,  and  it  was  to  her 
as  were  she  the  red  whirlwind  of  the  desert  before  whom 
all  bowed  in  terror,  the  Arab,  the  wild  horsemen,  and  the 
caravans  of  pilgrimage;  and  none  could  stay  her,  neither 
could  she  stay  herself,  for  the  curse  of  Allah  was  on  men 
by  reason  of  her  guilt;  and  she  went  swinging  great  folds 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  41 

of  darkness  across  kingdoms  and  empires  of  earth  where 
joy  was  and  peace  of  spirit;  and  in  her  track  amazement 
and  calamity,  and  the  whitened  bones  of  noble  youths, 
valorous  chieftains.  In  that  horror  of  her  dream  she 
stood  up  suddenly,  and  thrust  forth  her  hands  as  to  avert 
an  evil,  and  advanced  a  step;  and  with  the  act  her  dream 
was  cloven  and  she  awoke,  and  lo!  it  was  sunrise;  and 
where  had  been  two  warriors  of  the  Beni-Asser,  were  now 
five,  and  besides  her  own  steed  five  others,  one  the  steed 
of  Ruark,  and  Ruark  with  them  that  watched  over  her: 
pale  was  the  visage  of  the  Chief.  Ruark  eyed  Bhanavar, 
and  signalled  to  his  followers,  and  they,  when  they  had 
lifted  the  damsel  to  her  steed  and  placed  her  in  their  front, 
mounted  likewise,  and  flourished  their  lances  with  cries, 
and  jerked  their  heels  to  the  jflanks  of  their  steeds,  and 
stretched  forward  till  their  beards  were  mixed  with  the 
tossing  manes,  and  the  dust  rose  after  them  crimson  in  the 
sun.  So  they  coursed  away,  speeding  behind  their  Chief 
and  Bhanavar;  sweet  were  the  desert  herbs  under  their 
crushing  hooves !  Ere  the  shadow  of  the  acacia  measured 
less  than  its  height  they  came  upon  a  sprmg  of  silver  water, 
and  Ruark  leaped  from  his  steed,  and  Bhanavar  from  hers, 
and  they  performed  their  ablutions  by  that  spring,  and  ate 
and  drank,  and  watered  their  steeds.  While  they  were 
there  Bhanavar  lifted  her  eyes  to  Ruark,  and  said, '  Whither 
takest  thou  me,  0  my  Chief  ? ' 

His  brow  was  stern,  and  he  answered,^ '  Surely  to  the 
dwelling  of  thy  tribe.' 

Then  she  wept,  and  pulled  her  veil  close,  murmuring, 
"Tis  well!' 

They  spake  no  further,  and  pursued  their  journey 
toward  the  mountains  and  across  the  desert  that  was  as  a 
sea  asleep  in  the  blazing  heat,  and  the  sun  till  his  setting 
threw  no  shade  upon  the  sands  bigger  than  what  was  broad 
above  them.    By  the  beams  of  the  growing  moon  they 


42  THE  SmWING  OF  SIIAGPAT 

entered  the  first  gorge  of  the  luuuntaias.  Here  they  re- 
laxed the  swiftness  of  their  pace,  picking  their  way  over 
brolcen  rocks  and  stunted  shrubs,  and  the  mesh  of  spotted 
creeping  plants;  all  around  thcni  in  shadow  a  freshness  of 
noisy  rivulets  and  cool  scents  of  flowers,  asi)hodel  and  rose 
blooming  in  })lots  from  the  crevices  of  the  crags.  These, 
as  the  troop  ad\'anced,  wound  and  widened,  gradually 
receding,  and  their  summits,  which  were  silver  in  the  moon- 
light, took  in  the  distance  a  robe  of  purple,  and  the  sides 
of  the  mountains  were  rounded  away  in  purple  beyond  a 
space  of  emerald  pasture.  Now,  Ruark  beheld  the  hea\i- 
ness  of  Bhanavar,  and  that  she  drooped  in  her  seat,  and 
he  halted  her  by  a  cave  at  the  foot  of  the  mountaias, 
browed  with  white  broom.  Before  it,  over  grass  and 
cresses,  ran  a  rill,  a  branch  from  others,  larger  ones,  that 
went  hurrying  from  the  heights  to  feed  the  meadows  below, 
and  Bhanavar  dipped  her  hand  in  the  rill,  and  thought, 
'I  am  no  more  as  thou,  rill  of  the  mountain,  but  a  desert 
thing!  Thy  way  is  forward,  thy  end  before  thee;  but  I  go 
this  way  and  that;  my  end  is  dark  to  me;  not  a  life  is  mine 
that  will  have  its  close  kissing  the  cold  cheeks  of  the  saffron- 
crocus.  Cold  art  thou,  and  I — flames!  They  that  lean  to 
thee  are  refreshed,  they  that  touch  me  peiish. '  Then  she 
looked  forth  on  the  stars  that  were  above  the  purple  heights, 
and  the  blushes  of  inner  heaven  that  streamed  up  the  sky, 
and  a  fear  of  meeting  the  eyes  of  her  kindred  possessed 
her,  and  she  cried  out  to  Ruark,  '0  Chief  of  the  Beni- 
As.ser,  nmst  this  be?  and  is  there  no  help  for  it,  but  that 
I  return  among  them  that  look  on  me  basely  ? ' 

Ruark  stooped  to  her  and  said,  'Tell  me  thy  name. ' 
She  answered,  '  Bhanavar  is  my  name  with  that  jjeople.' 
And  he  whisperetl,  '  Surely  when  they  speak  of  thee  they 
say  not  Bhanavar  solely,  but  Bhanavar  the  Beautiful?' 

She  started  and  sought  the  eye  of  the  Chief,  and  it  was 
fixed  on  her  face  in  a  softened  light,  as  if  his  soul  had  said 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  43 

that  thing.  Then  she  sighed,  and  exclaimed,  'Unhappy- 
are  the  beautiful!  born  to  misery!  Allah  dressed  them  in 
his  grace  and  favour  for  their  certain  wretchedness!  Lo, 
their  countenances  are  as  the  sun,  their  existence  as  the 
desert;  barren  are  they  in  fruits  and  waters,  a  snare  to 
themselves  and  to  others!' 

Now,  the  Chief  leaned  to  her  yet  nearer,  saying,  'Show 
me  the  Jewel.' 

Bhanavar  caught  up  her  hands  and  clenched  them,  and 
she  cried  bitterly,  "Tis  known  to  thee!  She  told  thee, 
and  there  be  none  that  know  it  not!' 

Arising,  she  thrust  her  hand  into  her  bosom,  and  held 
forth  the  Jewel  in  the  palm  of  her  white  hand.  When 
Ruark  beheld  the  marvel  of  the  Jewel,  and  the  redness 
moving  in  it  as  of  a  panting  heart,  and  the  flashing  eye  of 
fire  that  it  was,  and  all  its  glory,  he  cried,  'It  was  indeed 
a  Jewel  for  queens  to  covet  from  the  Serpent,  and  a  prize 
the  noblest  might  risk  all  to  win  as  a  gift  for  thee. ' 

Then  she  said,  'Thy  voice  is  friendly  with  me,  0  Ruark! 
and  thou  scornest  not  the  creature  that  I  am.  Counsel  me 
as  to  my  dealing  with  the  Jewel. ' 

Surely  the  eyes  of  the  Chief  met  the  eyes  of  Bhanavar 
as  when  the  brightest  stars  of  midnight  are  doubled  in  a 
clear  dark  lake,  and  he  sang  in  measured  music : 

'Shall  I  counsel  the  moon  in  her  ascending? 
Stay  under  that  tall  palm-tree  through  the  night; 
Rest  on  the  mountain-slope 
By  the  couching  antelope, 
O  thou  enthroned  supremacy  of  light! 

And  for  ever  the  lustre  thou  art  lending, 
Lean  on  the  fair  long  brook  that  leaps  and  leaps, — 
Silvery  leaps  and  falls. 
Hang  by  the  mountain  walls, 
Moon!  and  arise  no  more  to  crown  the  steeps, 
For  a  danger  and  dolour  is  thy  wending! 


44  THE  SILWING  OF  SEL^GPAT 

And,  0  Bhanavar,  Blianavar  the  Beautiful!  shall  I  coun- 
sel thee,  moon  of  loveliness, — bright,  full,  perfect  moon! — 
counsel  thee  not  to  ascend  and  be  seen  and  worshii)i)ed 
of  men,  sitting  above  them  in  majesty,  thou  that  art  thy- 
self the  Jewel  beyond  price?  Wall!  What  if  thou  cast  it 
from  thee  ? — thy  beauty  remaincth ! ' 

And  Bhanavar  smote  her  palms  in  the  moonlight,  and 
exclaimed,  'How  then  shall  I  escape  this  in  me,  which  is 
a  curse  to  them  that  approach  me?' 

And  he  rephed: 

Long  we  the  less  for  the  pearl  of  the  sea 
Because  in  its  depths  there  's  the  death  we  flee? 
Long  we  the  less,  the  less,  woe  's  me! 
Because  thou  art  deathly, — the  less  for  thee  ? 

She  sang  aloud  among  the  rocks  and  the  caves  and  the 
illumined  waters: 

Destiny!  Destiny!  why  am  I  so  dark? 

I  that  have  beauty  and  love  to  be  fair. 
Destiny!  Destiny!  am  I  but  a  spark 

Traek'd  under  heaven  in  flames  and  despair? 
Destiny!  Destiny!  why  am  I  desired 

Thus  like  a  poisonous  fruit,  deadly  sweet? 
Destiny!  Destiny!  lo,  my  soul  is  tired, 

Make  me  thy  plaything  no  more,  I  entreat! 

Ruark  laughed  low,  and  said,  'What  is  this  dread  of 
Rukrooth  my  mother  which  weighcth  on  thee  but  silliness! 
For  she  saw  thee  willing  to  do  well  by  her;  and  thou  with 
thy  Jewel,  O  Bhanavar,  do  thou  but  well  by  thyself,  and 
there  will  be  no  woman  such  as  thou  in  power  and  excel- 
lence of  endowments,  as  there  is  nowhere  one  such  as  thou 
in  beauty.'  Then  he  sighed  to  her,  'Dare  I  look  up  to 
thee,  O  my  Queen  of  Serpents?'    And  he  breathed  as  one 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  45 

that  is  losing  breath,  and  the  words  came  from  him,  '  My 
soul  is  thine!' 

When  she  heard  him  say  this,  great  trouble  was  on  the 
damsel,  for  his  voice  was  not  the  voice  of  Zurvan  her  be- 
trothed; and  she  remembered  the  sorrow  of  Rukrooth. 
She  would  have  fled  from  him,  but  a  dread  of  the  displeas- 
ure of  the  Chief  restrained  her,  knowing  Ruark  a  soul  of 
wrath.  Her  eyehds  dropped  and  the  Chief  gazed  on  her 
eagerly,  and  sang  in  a  passion  of  praises  of  her;  the  fires 
of  his  love  had  a  tongue,  his  speech  was  a  torrent  of  flame 
at  the  feet  of  the  damsel.  And  Bhanavar  exclaimed,  '  Oh, 
what  am  I,  what  am  I,  who  have  slain  my  love,  my  lover! 
— that  one  should  love  me  and  call  on  me  for  love?  My  life 
is  a  long  weeping  for  him !     Death  is  my  wooer! ' 

Ruark  still  pleaded  with  her,  and  she  said  in  fair  gentle- 
ness, 'Speak  not  of  it  now  in  the  freshness  of  my  grief! 
Other  times  and  seasons  are  there.  My  soul  is  but  newly 
widowed!' 

Fierce  was  the  eye  of  the  Chief,  and  he  sprang  up,  cry- 
ing, 'By  the  life  of  my  head,  I  know  thy  wiles  and  the 
reading  of  these  delays:  but  I'll  never  leave  thee,  nor 
lose  sight  of  thee,  Bhanavar!  And  think  not  to  fly  from 
me,  thou  subtle,  brilHant  Serpent!  for  thy  track  is  my 
track,  and  thy  condition  my  condition,  and  thy  fate  my 
fate.    By  Allah!  this  is  so.' 

Then  he  strode  from  her  swiftly,  and  called  to  his  Arabs. 
They  had  kindled  a  fire  to  roast  the  flesh  of  a  buffalo, 
slaughtered  by  them  from  among  a  herd,  and  were  laugh- 
ing and  singing  beside  the  flames  of  the  fire.  So  by  the 
direction  of  their  Chief  the  Arabs  brought  slices  of  sweet 
buffalo-flesh  to  Bhanavar,  with  cakes  of  grain :  and  Bha- 
navar ate  alone,  and  drank  from  the  waters  before  her. 
Then  they  laid  for  her  a  couch  within  the  cave,  and  the 
aching  of  her  spirit  was  lulled,  and  she  slept  there  a  dream- 
less sleep  till  morning. 


4G  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

By  the  morning  light  Bhanavar  looked  abroad  for  the 
Chief,  and  he  was  nowhere  by.  A  pang  of  violent  hope 
struck  through  her,  and  she  pressed  her  bosom,  praying  he 
might  have  left  her,  and  chmbed  the  clefts  and  ledges  of 
the  mountain  to  search  over  the  fair  expanse  of  pasture 
beyond,  for  a  trace  of  him  departing.  The  sun  was  on  the 
heads  of  the  heavy  flowers,  and  a  flood  of  gold  down  the 
gorges,  and  a  delicate  rose  hue  on  the  distant  peaks  and 
upper  dolls  of  snow,  which  w^re  as  a  crown  to  the  scene 
she  surveyed;  but  no  sight  of  Ruark  had  she.  And  now 
she  was  beginning  to  rejoice,  but  on  a  sudden  her  eye 
caught  far  to  east  a  glimp;>e  of  something  in  motion  across 
an  even  slope  of  the  lower  hiUs  leaning  to  the  valley ;  and 
it  was  a  herd  that  rushed  forward,  like  a  black  torrent  of 
the  mountains  flinging  foam  this  way  and  that,  and  after 
the  herd  and  at  the  sides  of  the  herd  she  distinguished  the 
white  cloaks  and  scarfs  and  glittering  steel  of  the  Arabs 
of  Ruark.  Presently  she  saw  a  horseman  break  from  the 
rest,  and  race  in  a  line  toward  her.  She  knew  this  one 
for  Ruark,  and  sighed  and  descended  slowly  to  meet  him. 
The  greeting  of  the  Chief  was  sharp,  his  manner  wild,  and 
he  said  little  ere  he  said,  'I  will  see  thee  under  the  light 
of  the  Jewel,  so  tie  it  in  a  band  and  set  it  on  thy  brow, 
Bhanavar!' 

Her  mouth  was  open  to  intercede  with  his  desire,  but 
his  forehead  became  black  as  night,  and  he  shouted  in  the 
thunder  of  his  lion-voice,  'Do  this!' 

►She  took  the  Jewel  from  its  warm  bed  in  her  bosom, 
and  held  it,  and  got  together  a  band  of  green  weeds,  and 
set  it  hi  the  middle  of  the  band,  and  tied  the  band  on  her 
brow,  and  lifted  her  countenance  to  the  Chief.  Ruark 
stood  l)ack  from  her  and  gazed  on  her;  and  he  would  have 
veiled  his  sight  from  her,  but  his  hand  fell.  Then  the 
might  of  her  loveliness  seized  Bhanavar  likewise,  and  the 
full  orbs  of  her  eyes  glowed  on  the  Chief  as  on  a  mirror. 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  47 

and  she  moved  her  serpent  figure  scornfully,  and  smiled, 
saying,  '  Is  it  well? ' 

And  he,  when  he  could  speak,  repHed,  "Tis  well!  I 
have  seen  thee!  for  now  can  I  die  this  day,  if  it  be  that  I 
am  to  die.  And  well  it  is!  for  now  know  I  there  is  truly 
no  place  but  the  tomb  can  hold  me  from  thee!' 

Bhanavar  put  the  Jewel  from  her  brow  into  her  bosom, 
and  questioned  him,  'What  is  thy  dread  this  day,  0  my 
Chief?' 

He  answered  her  gravely,  'I  have  seen  Rukrooth  my 
mother  while  I  slept;  and  she  was  weeping,  weeping  by  a 
stream,  yea,  a  stream  of  blood;  and  it  was  a  stream  that 
flowed  in  a  hundred  gushes  from  her  own  veins.  The  sun 
of  this  dawn  now,  seest  thou  not?  'tis  overcrimson;  the 
vulture  hangeth  low  down  yonder  valley.'  And  he  cried 
to  her,  'Haste!  mount  with  me;  for  I  have  told  Rukrooth 
a  thing;  and  I  know  that  woman  crafty  in  the  thwarting 
of  schemes;  such  a  fox  is  she  where  aught  accordeth  not 
with  her  forecastings,  and  the  judgment  of  her  love  for 
me!  By  Allah!  'twere  well  we  clash  not;  for  that  I  will 
do  I  do,  and  that  she  will  do  doth  she.' 

So  the  twain  mounted  their  steeds,  and  Ruark  gathered 
his  Arabs  and  placed  them,  some  in  advance,  some  on 
either  side  of  Bhanavar;  and  they  rode  forward  to  the 
head  of  the  valley,  and  across  the  meadows,  through  the 
blushing  crowds  of  flowers,  baths  of  freshest  scents,  cool 
breezes  that  awoke  in  the  nostrils  of  the  mares  neighings 
of  dehght;  and  these  pranced  and  curvetted  and  swung 
their  tails,  and  gave  expression  to  their  joy  in  many 
graceful  fashions;  but  a  gloom  was  on  Ruark,  and  a  quick 
fire  in  his  falcon-eye,  and  he  rode  with  heels  alert  on  the 
flanks  of  his  mare,  dashing  onward  to  right  and  left,  as  do 
they  that  beat  the  jungle  for  the  crouching  tiger.  Once, 
when  he  was  well-nigh  half  a  league  in  front,  he  wheeled 
his  mare,  and  raced  back  full  on  Bhanavar,  grasping  her 


48  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

bridle,  and  hissing  l)otwecn  his  teeth,  'Not  a  soul  shall 
have  thee  save  I:  by  the  tomb  of  my  fathers,  never, 
while  life  is  with  us!' 

And  he  taunted  her  with  bitter  names,  and  was  as  one 
in  the  madness  of  intoxication,  drunken  with  the  aspect 
of  her  matchless  beauty  and  with  exceeding  love  for  her. 
And  Bhanavar  knew  that  the  dread  of  a  mishap  was  on 
the  mind  of  the  Chief. 

Now,  the  space  of  pasture  was  behind  them  a  broad 
lake  of  gold  and  jasper,  and  they  entered  a  region  of 
hills,  heights,  and  fastnesses,  robed  in  forests  that  rose  in 
rounded  swells  of  leafage,  each  over  each — above  all 
points  of  snow  that  were  as  flickering  silver  flames  in  the 
farthest  blue.  This  was  the  country  of  Bhanavar,  and  she 
gazed  mournfully  on  the  glades  of  golden  green  and  the 
glens  of  iron  blackness,  and  the  wild  flowers,  wild  blos- 
soms, and  weeds  well  known  to  her  that  would  not  let  her 
memory  rest,  and  were  wistful  of  what  had  been.  And 
she  thought,  '  My  sisters  tend  the  flocks,  my  mother  spin- 
neth  with  the  maidens  of  the  tribe,  my  father  hunteth; 
how  shall  I  come  among  them  but  strange?  Coldly  will 
they  regard  me ;  I  shall  feel  them  shudder  when  they  take 
me  to  their  bosoms.' 

She  looked  on  Ruark  to  speak  with  him,  but  the  mouth 
of  the  Chief  was  set  and  white ;  and  even  while  she  looked, 
cries  of  treason  and  battle  arose  from  the  Arabs  that  were 
ahead,  hidden  by  a  branching  wind  of  the  way  round  a 
mountain  slant.  Then  the  eyes  of  the  Chief  reddened,  his 
nostrils  grew  wide,  and  the  darkness  of  his  face  was  as 
flame  mixed  with  smoke,  and  he  seized  Bhanavar  and 
hastened  onward,  and  lo!  yonder  were  his  men  over- 
matched, and  warriors  of  the  mountains  bursting  on  them 
from  an  ambush  on  all  sides.  Ruark  leapt  in  his  seat, 
and  the  light  of  combat  was  on  him,  and  he  dug  his  knees 
into  his  mare,  and  shouted  the  war-cry  of  his  tribe,  lifting 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  49 

his  hands  as  it  were  to  draw  down  wrath  from  the  very 
heavens,  and  rushed  to  the  encounter.     Says  the  poet: 

Hast  thou  seen  the  wild  herd  by  the  jungle  galloping  close  ? 
With  a  thunder  of  hooves  they  trample  what  heads  may 

oppose : 
Terribly,  crushingly,  tempest-like,  onward  they  sweep: 
But  a  spring  from  the  reeds,  and  the  panther  is  sprawling  in 

air. 
And  with  muzzle  to  dust  and  black  beards  foam-lash'd,  here 

and  there, 
Scatter'd  they  fly,  crimson-eyed,  track'd  with  blood  to  the 

deep. 

Such  was  the  onset  of  Ruark,  his  stroke  the  stroke  of 
death;  and  ere  the  echoes  had  ceased  rolling  from  that  cry 
of  his,  the  mountain-warriors  were  scattered  before  him 
on  the  narrow  way,  hurled  down  the  scrub  of  the  moun- 
tain, even  as  dead  leaves  and  loosened  stones;  so  like  an 
arm  of  lightning  was  the  Chief! 

Now  Ruark  pursued  them,  and  was  lost  to  Bhanavar 
round  a  slope  of  the  mountain.  She  quickened  her  pace 
to  mark  him  in  the  glory  of  the  battle,  and  behold!  a 
sudden  darkness  enveloped  her,  and  she  felt  herself  in  the 
swathe  of  tightened  folds,  clasped  in  an  arm,  and  borne 
rapidly  she  knew  not  whither,  for  she  could  hear  and  see 
nothing.  It  was  to  her  as  were  she  speeding  constantly 
downward  in  darkness  to  the  lower  realms  of  the  Genii 
of  the  Caucasus,  and  every  sense,  and  even  that  of  fear, 
was  stunned  in  her.  How  long  an  interval  had  elapsed 
she  knew  not,  when  the  folds  were  unwound;  but  it  was 
light  of  day,  and  the  faces  of  men,  and  they  were  warriors 
that  were  about  her,  warriors  of  the  mountain;  but  of 
Ruark  and  his  Arabs  no  voice.  So  she  said  to  them, 
'What  do  ye  with  me?' 

And  one  among  them,  that  was  a  youth  of  dignity  and 


50  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

grace,  and  a  countenance  like  morning  on  the  mountains, 
answered,  'The  will  of  Rukrooth,  O  lady!  and  it  is  the 
plight  of  him  we  bow  to  with  Kukrooth,  mother  of  the 
Desert-Chief.' 

She  cried,  'Is  he  here,  the  Prince,  that  I  may  speak 
with  him?' 

The  same  young  warrior  made  answer,  'Not  so;  fore- 
warned was  he,  and  well  for  him!' 

lihanavar  drew  her  robe  about  her  and  was  mute.  Ere 
the  settnig  of  the  moon  they  journeyed  on  with  her;  and 
continued  so  three  days  and  nights  through  the  defiles  and 
ravines  and  matted  growths  of  the  mountains.  On  the 
fourth  dawn  they  were  on  the  summit  of  a  lofty  mountain- 
rise;  below  them  the  sun,  shooting  a  current  of  gold 
across  leagues  of  sea.  Then  he  that  had  spoken  with  Bha- 
navar  said,  'A  sail  will  come,'  and  a  sail  came  from  under 
the  sun.  Scarce  had  the  ship  grated  shore  when  the  war- 
riors lifted  Bhanavar,  and  waded  through  the  water  with 
her,  and  placed  her  unwettcd  in  the  ship,  and  one,  the  fair 
youth  among  the  warriors,  sprang  on  board  with  her, 
remaining  by  her.  So  the  captain  pushed  off,  and  the 
wind  filled  the  sails,  and  Bhanavar  w^as  borne  over  the 
lustre  of  the  sea,  that  was  as  a  changing  opal  in  its  lustre, 
even  as  a  melted  jewel  flowing  from  the  fingers  of  the 
maker,  the  Almighty  One.  The  ship  ceased  not  sailing 
till  they  came  to  a  narrow  strait,  where  the  sea  was  but  a 
river  between  fair  sloping  hills  alight  with  towers  and 
j)alaces,  opening  a  way  to  a  great  city  that  was  in  its  radi- 
ance over  the  waters  of  the  sea  as  the  aspect  of  myriad 
sheeny  white  doves  breasting  the  wave.  Hitherto  the 
young  warrior  had  held  aloof  in  coldness  of  courtesy  from 
Bhanavar;  but  now  he  sat  by  her,  and  said,  'The  bond 
between  my  prince  and  Rukrooth  is  accomplished,  and  it 
was  to  snatch  thee  from  the  Chief  of  the  Beni-Asser  and 
bring  thee  even  to  this  city.' 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  51 

Bhanavar  exclaimed,  'Allah  be  praised  in  all  things, 
and  his  will  be  done!' 

The  youth  continued,  'Thou  art  alone  here,  0  lady, 
exposed  to  the  perils  of  loneliness;  surely  it  were  weU  if 
I  linger  with  thee  awhile,  and  see  to  thy  welfare  in  this 
city,  even  as  a  brother  with  a  sister;  and  I  will  deal  hon- 
ourably by  thee.' 

Bhanavar  looked  on  the  young  warrior  and  blushed  at 
his  exceeding  sweetness  with,  her;  the  soft  freshness  of  his 
voice  was  to  her  as  the  blossom-laden  breeze  in  the  valleys 
of  the  mountains,  and  she  breathed  low  the  words  of  her 
gratitude,  saying,  'If  I  am  not  a  burden,  let  this  be  so/ 

Then  said  he,  'Know  me  by  my  name,  which  is  Al- 
meryl;  and  that  we  seem  indeed  of  one  kin,  make  known 
unto  me  thine.' 

She  rephed,  'Ill-omened  is  it,  this  name  of  Bhanavar!' 

The  youth  among  warriors  gazed  on  her  a  moment  with 
the  fluttering  eye  of  bashfulness,  and  said,  'Can  they  that 
have  marked  thee  call  thee  other  than  Bhanavar  the 
Beautiful?' 

She  remembered  that  Ruark  had  spoken  in  like  manner, 
and  the  curse  of  her  beauty  smote  her,  and  she  thought, 
'This  fair  youth,  he  hath  not  a  mother  to  watch  over  him 
and  ward  off  souls  of  evil.  1  dread  there  will  come  a  mis- 
hap to  him  through  me;  Allah  shield  him  from  it!'  And 
she  sought  to  dissuade  him  from  resting  by  her,  but  he 
cried,  "Tis  but  a  choice  to  dwell  with  thee  or  -^dth  the 
dogs  in  the  street  outside  thy  door,  O  Bhanavar!' 

Now,  the  ship  sailed  close  up  to  the  quay,  and  cast 
anchor  there  in  the  midst  of  other  ships  of  merchandise. 
Almeryl  then  threw  a  robe  over  his  mountain  dress  and 
spoke  with  the  captain  apart,  and  he  and  Bhanavar  took 
leave  of  the  captain,  and  landed  on  the  quay  among  the 
porters,  and  of  these  one  stepped  forward  to  them  and 
shouted  cheerily,  'Where  be  the  burdens  and  the  bales. 


52  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

0  ye,  fair  couple  fasliioiicd  iii  the  eye  of  elegant  propor- 
tions? Ye  twin  pahn-trcos,  male  and  female!  WuUahy! 
hr(x\(l  is  tlic  hack  of  your  servant.' 

Abm-ryl  beckoned  to  him  that  he  should  follow  them, 
and  he  followed  them,  blessing  the  wind  that  had  brought 
them  to  that  city  and  the  day.  So  they  passed  through 
the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  the  porter  pointed 
out  this  house  and  that  house  wanting  an  occupant,  and 
Almeryl  fixed  on  one  in  an  open  thoroughfare  that  had 
before  it  a  grass-plot,  and  behind  a  garden  with  fountains 
and  flowers,  and  grass-knolls  shaded  by  trees;  and  he  paid 
down  the  half  of  its  price,  and  had  it  furnished  before 
nightfall  sumj^tuously,  and  women  in  it  to  wait  on  Bhana- 
var,  and  stuffs  and  goods,  and  scents  for  the  bath, — all 
luxuries  whatsoever  that  tradesmen  and  merchants  there 
could  give  in  exchange  for  gold.  Then  Almeryl  dismissed 
the  porter  in  Allah's  name,  and  gladdened  his  spirit  with 
a  gift  over  the  due  of  his  hire  that  exalted  him  in  the  eyes 
of  the  porter,  and  the  porter  went  from  him,  exclaiming, 
'In  extremity  Ukleet  is  thy  slave!'  and  he  sang: 

Shouldst  thou  see  a  slim  youth  with  a  damsel  arriving, 
Be  sure  'tis  the  hour  when  thy  fortune  is  thriving; 
A  generous  fee  makes  the  members  so  supple 
That  over  the  world  tliey  could  carry  this  couple. 

Now  so  it  was  that  the  youth  Almeryl  and  the  damsel 
Bhanavar  abode  in  the  city  they  had  come  to  weeks  and 
months,  and  life  to  cither  of  them  as  the  flowing  of  a 
gentle  stream,  even  as  brother  and  sister  lived  they,  chastely, 
and  with  temi)erate  feasting.  Surely  the  youth  loved  her 
with  a  great  love,  and  the  heart  of  Bhanavar  turned  not 
from  him,  antl  was  won  utterly  by  his  gentleness  and 
nobleness  and  dc^votion;  and  they  relied  on  each  other's 
presence  for  any  joy,  and  were  desolate  in  absence,  as  the 
poet  says: 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  53 

When  we  must  part,  love, 
Such  is  my  smart,  love, 
Sweetness  is  savourless, 
Fairness  is  favourless! 
But  when  in  sight,  love, 
We  two  unite,  love, 
Earth  has  no  sour  to  me; 
Life  is  a  flower  to  me! 

And  with  the  increase  of  every  day  their  passion  increased, 
and  the  revealing  light  in  their  eyes  brightened  and  was 
humid,  as  is  sung  by  him  that  luted  to  the  rage  of  hearts: 

Even's  star  yonder 

Comes  like  a  crown  on  us. 
Larger  and  fonder 

Grows  its  orb  down  on  us; 
So,  love,  my  love  for  thee 

Blossoms  increasingly ; 
So  sinks  it  in  the  sea. 

Waxing  unceasingly. 

On  a  night,  when  the  singing-girls  had  left  them,  the 
youth  could  contain  himself  no  more,  and  caught  the  two 
hands  of  Bhanavar  in  his,  saying,  '  This  that  is  in  my  soul 
for  thee  thou  knowest,  0  Bhanavar!  and  'tis  spoken  when 
I  move  and  when  I  breathe,  0  my  loved  one!  Tell  me 
then  the  cause  of  thy  shunning  me  whenever  I  would  speak 
of  it,  and  be  plain  with  thee. ' 

For  a  moment  Bhanavar  sought  to  release  herself  from 
his  hold,  but  the  love  in  his  eyes  entangled  her  soul  as  in 
a  net,  and  she  sank  forward  to  him,  and  sighed  under  his 
chin,  '  'Twas  indeed  my  very  love  of  thee  that  made  me. ' 

The  twain  embraced  and  kissed  a  long  kiss,  and  leaned  side- 
ways together,  and  Bhanavar  said,  '  Hear  me,  what  I  am. ' 

Then  she  related  the  story  of  the  Serpent  and  the  Jewel, 
and  of  the  death  of  her  betrothed.     When  it  was  ended. 


64  THE.  SHAVING  OF  SIIAGPAT 

Aimer)'!  cried,  'And  was  this  all? — this  that  severed  us?  ' 
And  he  said,  'Hear  what  I  am.' 

So  he  told  Bhaiiavar  how  Rukrooth,  the  mother  of 
Ruark,  had  sent  messengers  to  the  Prince  his  father, 
warning  him  of  the  passage  of  Ruark  through  the  moun- 
tains with  one  a  Queen  of  Serpents,  a  sorceress,  that  had 
bewitched  him  and  enthralled  him  in  a  mighty  love  for  her, 
to  the  ruin  of  Ruark;  and  how  the  Chief  was  on  his  way 
with  her  to  demand  her  in  marriage  at  the  hands  of  her 
parents;  and  the  words  of  Rukrooth  were,  'By  the  ser- 
vice that  was  between  thee  and  my  husband,  and  by  the 
death  he  died,  0  Prince,  rescue  the  Chief  my  son  from 
this  damsel,  and  entrap  her  from  him,  and  have  her  sent 
even  to  the  city  of  the  inland  sea,  for  no  less  a  distance 
than  that  keepeth  Ruark  from  her. ' 

And  Almeryl  continued,  'I  questioned  the  messengers 
myself,  and  they  told  me  the  marvel  of  thy  loveliness  and 
the  peril  to  him  that  looked  on  it,  so  I  sw^ore  there  was  no 
power  should  keep  me  from  a  sight  of  thee,  O  my  loved 
one!  my  prize!  my  life!  my  sleek  antelope  of  the  hills! 
Surely  when  my  father  appointed  the  warriors  to  lie  in 
wait  for  thy  coming,  I  slipped  among  them,  so  that  they 
thought  it  ordered  by  him  I  should  head  them.  The  rest 
is  known  to  thee,  0  my  fountain  of  blissf ulness !  but  the 
treachery  to  Ruark  was  the  treachery  of  Ebn  Asrac,  not 
of  such  warriors  as  we;  and  I  would  have  fallen  on  Ebn 
Asrac,  had  not  Ruark  so  routed  that  man  without  faith. 
'Twas  all  as  I  have  said,  blessed  be  Allah  and  his  decrees!' 

Bhanavar  gazed  on  her  beloved,  and  the  bridal  dew  over- 
flowed her  underlids,  and  she  loosed  her  hair  to  let  it  flow, 
part  over  her  shoulders,  part  over  his,  and  in  sighs  that 
were  the  measure  of  nmsic  she  sang: 

I  thought  not  to  love  again! 

But  now  I  love  as  I  loved  not  before; 
I  love  not;   I  adore! 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  55 

O  my  beloved,  kiss,  kiss  me!  waste  thy  kisses  like  a  rain. 
Are  not  thy  red  lips  fain  ? 
Oh,  and  so  softly  they  greet! 
Am  I  not  sweet? 
Sweet  must  I  be  for  thee,  or  sweet  in  vain: 

Sweet  to  thee  only,  my  dear  love! 
The  lamps  and  censers  sink,  but  cannot  cheat 
These  eyes  of  thine  that  shoot  above 
Trembling  lustres  of  the  dove! 
A  darkness  drowns  all  lustres:  still  I  see 

Thee,  my  love,  thee! 
Thee,  my  glory  of  gold,  from  head  to  feet! 
Oh,  how  the  lids  of  the  world  close  quite  when  our  lips 
meet! 

Almeryl  strained  her  to  him,  and  responded: 

My  life  was  midnight  on  the  mountain  side; 

Cold  stars  were  on  the  heights: 
There,  in  my  darkness,  I  had  lived  and  died, 

Content  with  nameless  lights. 
Sudden  I  saw  the  heavens  flush  with  a  beam, 

And  I  ascended  soon. 
And  evermore  over  mankind  supreme, 

Stood  silver  in  the  moon. 


And  he  fell  playfully  into  a  new  metre,  singing: 

Who  will  paint  my  beloved 
In  musical  word  or  colour? 

Earth  with  an  envy  is  moved: 
Sea-shells  and  roses  she  brings. 
Gems  from  the  green  ocean-springs, 
Fruits  with  the  fairy  bloom-dews. 
Feathers  of  Paradise  hues. 
Waters  with  jewel-bright  falls, 
Ore  from  the  Genii-halls: 


50  THE  SHAVING  OF  SH.\GPAT 

All  in  their  splendour  approved; 
xVll;    but,  nuitch'd  with  my  beloved. 
Darker,  and  denser,  and  duller. 

Then  she  kissed  him  for  that  song,  and  sang: 

Once  to  be  beautiful  was  my  pride, 

And  I  blush'd  in  love  with  my  own  bright  brow: 
Once,  when  a  wooer  was  by  my  side, 

I  worshipp'd  the  object  that  had  his  vow: 
Different,  different,  different  now, 

Different  now  is  my  beauty  to  me: 
Different,  different,  different  now! 

For  I  prize  it  alone  because  prized  by  thee. 

Almeryl  stretched  his  arm  to  the  lattice,  and  drew  it 
open,  letting  in  the  soft  night  wind,  and  the  sound  of  the 
fountain  and  the  bulbul  and  the  beam  of  the  stars,  and 
versed  to  her  in  the  languor  of  deep  love : 

WTiether  we  die  or  we  live. 

Matters  it  now  no  more: 
Life  has  nought  further  to  give: 

Love  is  its  crown  and  its  core. 
Come  to  us  either,  we  're  rife, — 
Death  or  life! 

Death  can  take  not  away, 

Darkness  and  light  are  the  same: 

We  are  beyond  the  pale  ray, 
Wrapt  in  a  rosier  flame: 

Welcome  which  will  to  our  breath, — 
Life  or  death! 

So  did  these  two  lovers  lute  and  sing  in  the  stillness  of 
the  night,  pouring  into  each  other's  cars  melodies  from 
the  new  sea  of  fancy  and  feeling  that  flowed  through  them. 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  57 

Ere  they  ceased  their  sweet  interchange  of  tenderness, 
which  was  but  one  speech  from  one  soul,  a  glow  of  light 
ran  up  the  sky,  and  the  edge  of  a  cloud  was  fired;  and  in 
the  blooming  of  dawn  Almeryl  hung  over  Bhanavar,  and 
his  heart  ached  to  see  the  freshness  of  her  wondrous  love- 
liness; and  he  sang,  looking  on  her  : 

The  rose  is  living  in  her  cheeks, 

The  lily  in  her  rounded  chin; 
She  speaks  but  when  her  whole  soul  speaks, 

And  then  the  two  flow  out  and  in. 
And  mix  their  red  and  white  to  make 
The  hue  for  which  I  'd  Paradise  forsake. 

Her  brow  from  her  black  falling  hair 
Ascends  like  morn:  her  nose  is  clear 

As  morning  hills,  and  finely  fair 
With  pearly  nostrils  curving  near 

The  red  bow  of  her  upper  lip; 
Her  bosom  's  the  white  wave  beneath  the  ship. 

The  fair  full  earth,  the  enraptured  skies, 

She  images  in  constant  play: 
Night  and  the  stars  are  in  her  eyes, 

But  her  sweet  face  is  beaming  day, 
A  bounteous  interblush  of  flowers: 
A  dewy  brilliance  in  a  dale  of  bowers. 

Then  he  said,  'And  this  morning  shall  our  contract  of 
marriage  be  written  and  witnessed?' 

She  answered,  'As  my  lord  willeth;  I  am  his.' 

Said  he,  'And  it  is  thy  desire?' 

She  nestled  to  him  and  dinted  his  bare  arm  with  the 
pearls  of  her  mouth  for  a  reply. 

So  that  morning  their  contract  of  marriage  was  written, 
and  vdtnessed  by  the  legal  number  of  witnesses  in  the 
presence  of  the  Cadi,  with  his  license  on  it  endorsed;  and 


58  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Blianavar  wiLs  tho  bride  of  Alriicryl,  ho  her  husband. 
Never  was  youth  blessed  in  a  bride  like  that  youth! 

Now,  the  twain  lived  together  the  circle  of  a  full  year 
of  delightful  marriage,  and  love  lessened  not  in  them,  but 
was  as  the  love  of  the  first  day.  Little  cared  they,  having 
each  other,  for  the  loneliness  of  their  dwelling  in  that 
city,  where  they  knew  none  save  the  porter  Ukleet,  who 
went  about  their  commissions.  Sometimes  to  amuse 
themselves  with  his  drolleries,  they  sent  for  him,  and  were 
bountiful  with  liim,  and  made  him  drink  with  them  on  the 
lawn  of  their  garden  leaning  to  an  inlet  of  the  sea;  and 
then  he  would  entertain  them  with  all  the  scandal  and 
gossip  of  the  city,  and  its  little  folk  and  great,  ^^'hen  he 
was  outrageously  extravagant  in  these  stories  of  his,  Bha- 
navar  exclaimed,  '  Are  such  things,  now  ?  can  it  be  true  ? ' 

And  he  nodded  in  his  conceit,  and  rephed  loftily,  "Tis 
certain,  O  my  Prince  and  Princess!  ye  be  from  the  moun- 
tains, unused  to  the  follies  and  dissipations  of  men  where 
they  herd;  and  ye  know  them  not,  men  !' 

The  lamps  being  lit  in  the  garden  to  the  edges  of  the 
water,  where  they  lay  one  evening,  Ukleet,  who  had  been 
in  his  briskest  mood,  became  grave,  and  put  his  forefinger 
to  the  side  of  his  nose  and  began,  'Hear  ye  aught  of  the 
great  tidings?  Wullahy!  no  other  than  the  departure  of 
the  wife  of  Boolp,  the  broker,  into  darkness.  'Tis  of 
Boolp  ye  hire  tliis  house,  and  had  ye  a  hundred  houses  in 
this  city  ye  might  have  had  them  from  Boolp  the  broker, 
he  that 's  rich;  and  glory  to  them  whom  Allah  prospereth, 
say  I!  And  I  mention  this  matter,  for  'tis  certain  now 
Boolp  will  take  another  wife  to  him  to  comfort  him,  for 
there  be  two  things  beloved  of  Boolp,  and  therein  mani- 
festeth  he  taste  and  the  discernment  of  excellence,  and 
what  is  approved;  and  of  these  two  things  let  the  love  of 
his  hoards  of  the  yellow-skinned  treasure  go  first,  and  after 
that  attachment  to  the  silver-skinned  of  creation,  the  fair, 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  59 

the  rapturous ;  even  to  them !  So  by  this  see  ye  not  Boolp 
will  yearn  in  his  soul  for  another  spouse  ?  Now,  0  ye  well- 
matched  pair!  what  a  chance  were  this,  knew  ye  but  a 
damsel  of  the  mountains,  exquisite  in  symmetry,  a  moon 
to  enrapture  the  imagination  of  Boolp,  and  in  the  nature 
of  things  herit  his  possessions !  for  Boolp  is  an  old  man, 
even  very  old.' 

They  laughed,  and  cried,  'We  know  not  of  such  a  dam- 
sel, and  the  broker  must  go  unmarried  for  us. ' 

When  next  Ukleet  sat  before  them,  Almeryl  took  occa- 
sion to  speak  of  Boolp  again,  and  said,  'This  broker,  O 
Ukleet,  is  he  also  a  lender  of  money  ? ' 

Ukleet  replied,  'O  my  Prince,  he  is  or  he  is  not:  'tis 
of  the  maybes.  I  wot  truly  Boolp  is  one  that  baiteth  the 
hook  of  an  emergency. ' 

The  brows  of  the  Prince  were  downcast,  and  he  said  no 
more ;  but  on  the  following  morning  he  left  Bhanavar  early 
under  a  pretext,  and  sallied  forth  from  the  house  of  their 
abode  alone. 

Since  their  union  in  that  city  they  had  not  been  once 
apart,  and  Bhanavar  grieved  and  thought,  'Waneth  his 
love  for  me?'  and  she  called  her  women  to  her,  and 
dressed  in  this  dress  and  that  dress,  and  was  satisfied 
with  none.  The  dews  of  the  bath  stood  cold  upon  her, 
and  she  trembled,  and  fled  from  mirror  to  mirror,  and  in 
each  she  was  the  same  surpassing  \'ision  of  loveliness. 
Then  her  women  held  a  glass  to  her,  and  she  examined  her- 
self closely,  if  there  might  be  a  fleck  upon  her  anywhere, 
and  all  was  as  the  snow  of  the  mountains  on  her  round 
limbs  sloping  in  the  curves  of  harmony,  and  the  faint  rose 
of  the  dawn  on  slants  of  snow  was  their  hue.  Twining 
her  fingers  and  sighing,  she  thought,  'It  is  not  that!  he 
cannot  but  think  me  beautiful.'  She  smiled  a  melan- 
choly smile  at  her  image  in  the  glass,  exclaiming,  'What 
availeth  it,  thy  beauty  ?  for  he  is  away  and  looketh  not  on 


00  THE  SPIAMNG  OF  SHAGPAT 

ihcc,  thou  vaLii  tliiiig!  Antl  what  of  thy  lovcHncss  if  the 
light  illuniino  it  not,  for  he  is  the  hght  to  thee,  and  it  is 
darkiK'.ss  when  he  's  away. ' 

Suddenly  she  thought,  '  What 's  that  which  needeth  to 
light  it  no  other  light?  I  had  well-nigh  forgotten  it  in 
my  bliss,  the  Jewel ! '  Then  she  went  to  a  case  of  ebony- 
wood,  where  she  kept  the  Jewel,  and  drew  it  forth,  and 
shone  in  the  beam  of  a  pleasant  imaghiation,  thinking, 
"TwiU  surprise  him!'  And  she  robed  herself  in  a  robe 
of  saffron,  and  set  lesser  gems  of  the  diamond  and  the 
emerald  in  the  braid  of  her  hair,  and  knotted  the  Serpent 
Jewel  iirmly  in  a  band  of  gold-threaded  tissue,  and  had  it 
woven  in  her  hair  among  the  braids.  In  this  array  she 
awaited  his  coming,  and  pleased  her  mind  with  picturing 
his  astonishment  and  the  joy  that  would  be  his.  Mute 
were  the  women  who  waited  on  her,  for  in  their  lives  they 
had  seen  no  such  sight  as  Bhanavar  beneath  the  beams 
of  the  Jewel,  and  the  whole  chamber  was  aglow  with 
her. 

Now,  in  her  anxiety  she  sent  them  one  and  one  re- 
peatedly to  look  forth  at  the  window  for  the  coming  of 
the  Prince.  So,  when  he  came  not  she  went  herself  to 
look  forth,  and  stretched  her  white  neck  beyond  the  case- 
ment. A\'hile  her  head  was  exposed,  she  heard  a  cry  of 
some  one  from  the  house  in  the  street  opposite,  and  Bha- 
navar beheld  in  the  house  of  the  broker  an  old  wrinkled 
fellow  that  gesticulated  to  her  in  a  frenzy.  She  snatched 
her  veil  down  and  drew  in  her  head  in  anger  at  him,  call- 
ing to  her  maids,  'What  is  yonder  hideous  old  dotard?' 

And  they  answered,  laughhig,  "Tis  indeed  Boolp  the 
broker,  O  fair  mistress  and  mighty!' 

To  divert  herself  she  made  them  tell  her  of  Boolp,  and 
they  told  her  a  thousand  anecdotes  of  the  broker,  and 
verses  of  him,  and  the  constancy  of  his  amorous  condition, 
and  his  greediness.     And  Bhanavar  was  beguiled  of  her 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  61 

impatience  till  it  was  evening,  and  the  Prince  returned  to 
her.  So  they  embraced,  and  she  greeted  him  as  usual, 
waiting  what  he  would  say,  searching  his  countenance  for 
a  token  of  wonderment;  but  the  youth  knew  not  that 
aught  was  added  to  her  beauty,  for  he  looked  nowhere 
save  in  her  eyes.  Bhanavar  was  nigh  weeping  with  vexa- 
tion, and  pushed  him  from  her,  and  chid  him  with  lack  of 
love  and  weariness  of  her;  and  the  eye  of  the  Prince  rose 
to  her  brow  to  read  it,  and  he  saw  the  Jewel.  Almeryl 
clapped  his  hands,  crying,  'Wondrous!  And  this  thy  sur- 
prise for  me,  my  fond  one  ?  beloved  of  mine ! '  Then  he 
gazed  on  her  a  space,  and  said,  'Ejiowest  thou,  thou  art 
terrible  in  thy  beauty,  Bhanavar,  and  hast  the  face  of 
lightning  under  that  Jewel  of  the  Serpent?' 

She  kissed  him,  whispering,  'Not  lightning  to  thee! 
Yet  lovest  thou  Bhanavar?' 

He  replied,  'Surely  so;  and  all  save  Bhanavar  in  this 
world  is  the  darkness  of  oblivion  to  me.' 

When  it  was  the  next  morning,  Almeryl  rose  to  go  forth 
again.  Ere  he  had  passed  the  curtam  of  the  cham- 
ber Bhanavar  caught  him  by  the  arm,  and  she  was 
trembling  violently.  Her  visage  was  a  wild  inquiry: 
'Thou  goest? — and  again?  There  is  something  hidden 
from  me!' 

Almeryl  took  her  to  his  heart,  and  caressed  her  with 
fond  flatteries,  saying,  'Ask  but  what  is  beating  under 
these  two  pomegranates,  and  thou  learnest  all  of  me.' 

But  she  stamped  her  foot,  crying,  'No!  no!  I  will  hear 
it!    There's  a  mystery.' 

So  he  said,  'Well,  then,  it  is  this  only;  small  matter 
enough.  I  have  a  business  with  the  captain  of  the  vessel 
that  brought  us  hither,  and  I  must  see  him  ere  he  setteth 
sail;  no  other  than  that,  thou  jealous,  watchful  star! 
Pierce  me  with  thine  eyes;  it  is  no  other  than  that.' 

She  levelled  her  lids  at  him  till  her  lustrous  black  eye- 


02  THE  .SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

lashes  were  as  arrows,  and  mimicked  him  softly,  'No 
other  than  that?' 

And  he  replied,  'Even  so.' 

Then  she  clung  to  him  like  a  hungry  creature,  repeat- 
ing, 'Even  so,'  and  let  him  go.  Alone,  she  summoned  a 
slave,  a  black,  and  bade  him  fetch  to  her  without  delay 
Ukleet  the  porter,  and  the  porter  was  presently  ushered 
in  to  her,  protesting  service  and  devotion.  So,  she  ques- 
tioned him  of  Almeryl,  and  the  Prince's  business  abroad, 
what  he  knew  of  it.  Ukleet  commenced  reciting  verses 
on  the  ills  of  jealousy,  but  Bhanavar  checked  him  with  an 
eye  that  Ukleet  had  seen  never  before  in  woman  or  in  man, 
and  he  gaped  at  her  helplessly,  as  one  that  has  swallowed 
a  bone.  She  laughed,  crying,  'Learn,  O  thou  fellow,  to 
answer  my  like  by  the  letter.' 

Now,  what  she  heard  from  Ukleet  when  he  had  recov- 
ered his  wits,  was  that  the  Prince  had  a  business  with 
none  save  the  lenders  of  money.  So  she  spake  to  Ukleet 
in  a  kindly  tone,  '  Thou  art  mine,  to  serve  me  ? ' 

He  was  as  one  fascinated,  and  delivered  himself,  'Yea, 
0  my  mistress!  with  tongue-service,  toe-service,  back- 
service,  brain-service,  whatso  pleaseth  thy  sweet  pres- 
ence.' 

Said  she,  'Ilie  over  to  the  broker  opposite,  and  bring 
him  hither  to  me.' 

Ukleet  departed,  saying,  'To  hear  is  to  obey.' 

She  sat  gazing  on  the  Jewel  and  its  counterchanging 
splendours  in  her  hand,  and  the  thought  of  Almeryl  and 
his  necessity  was  her  only  thought.  Not  ten  minutes  of 
the  hour  had  passed  before  the  women  waiting  on  her 
annoimced  Ukleet  and  the  broker  Boolp.  Bhanavar  gave 
little  heed  to  the  old  fellow's  grimaces,  and  the  compli- 
ments he  addressed  her,  but  handed  him  the  Jewel  and 
desired  his  valuation  of  its  worth.  The  face  of  Boolp  was 
a  keen  edge  when  he  regarded  Bhanavar,  but  the  sight  of 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  63 

the  Jewel  sharpened  it  tenfold,  and  he  tossed  his  arms, 
exclaiming,  'A  jewel,  this!' 

So  Bhanavar  cried  to  him,  'Fix  a  price  for  it,  0  thou 
broker!' 

And  Boolp,  the  old  miser,  debated,  and  began  prating, 
'0  lady!  the  soul  of  thy  slave  is  abashed  by  a  double 
beam,  this  the  jewel  of  jewels,  thou  truly  of  thy  sex;  and 
saving  thee  there  's  no  jewel  of  worth  like  this  one,  and 
together  ye  be — wullahy!  never  felt  I  aught  like  this 
since  my  espousal  of  Soolka  that 's  gone,  and  'twas  nothing 
like  it  then!  Now,  0  my  Princess,  confess  it  freely — this 
is  but  a  pretext,  this  valuation  of  the  Jewel,  and  Ukleet 
our  go-between;  and  leave  the  rewarding  of  him  to  me. 
Wullahy!  I  can  be  generous,  and  my  days  of  favour  with 
fair  ladies  be  not  yet  over.  Blessed  be  Allah  for  this  day! 
And  thinkest  thou  those  eyes  fell  on  me  with  discrimina- 
ting observation  ere  my  sense  of  perception  was  struck  by 
thee?  Not  so,  for  I  had  noted  thee,  0  moon  of  hearts, 
from  my  window  yonder,' 

In  this  fashion  Boolp  the  broker  went  on  prating,  and 
bowing,  and  screwing  the  corners  of  his  little  acid  eyes  to 
wink  the  wink  of  common  accord  between  himself  and 
Bhanavar.  Meantime  she  had  spoken  aside  to  one  of  her 
women,  and  a  second  black  slave  entered  the  chamber, 
bearing  in  his  hand  a  twisted  scourge,  and  that  slave  laid 
it  on  the  back  of  Boolp  the  broker,  and  by  this  means  he 
was  brought  quickly  to  the  valuation  of  the  Jewel.  Then 
he  named  a  sum  that  was  a  great  sum,  but  not  the  value  of 
the  Jewel  to  the  fiftieth  part,  nay  nor  the  five-hundredth 
part,  of  its  value;  and  Ukleet  remonstrated  with  him,  but 
he  was  resolute,  saying,  'Even  that  sum  leaves  me  a 
beggar.' 

So  Bhanavar  said,  '  My  desire  is  for  immediate  payment 
of  the  money,  and  the  Jewel  is  thine  for  that  sum.' 

Now  the  broker  went  to  fetch  the  money,  and  returned 


CA  THE  SHAVING  OF  SIUGPAT 

with  it  ill  l)aj:!;s  of  p;old  one-half  the  amount,  and  bags  of 
silver  one-third,  and  the  remainder  in  writing  made  due 
at  a  certain  period  for  payment.  And  he  groaned  and 
handed  her  the  money,  and  took  the  Jewel  in  his  hands, 
ejaculating,  'In  the  name  of  Allah!' 

That  evening,  when  it  was  dark  and  the  lamps  lit  in  the 
chamber,  and  the  wine  set  and  the  nosegay,  Almeryl 
ask(>d  of  Bhanavar  to  see  her  under  the  light  of  the  Jewel. 
She  warded  him  with  an  excuse,  but  he  was  earnest  with 
her.  So  she  feigned  that  he  teased  her,  saying,  "Tis  that 
thou  art  no  longer  content  with  me  as  I  am,  O  my  hus- 
band ! '  Then  she  said,  '  Wert  thou  successful  in  thy 
dealings  this  day?' 

His  arm  slackened  round  her,  and  he  answered  nothing. 
So  she  cried,  'Fie  on  thee,  thou  foolish  one!  and  what  is 
thy  need  of  running  over  this  city  ?  Know  I  not  thy  case 
and  thine  occasion,  0  my  beloved  ?  Surely  I  am  Queen  of 
S(Tpcnts,  a  mistress  of  enchantments,  a  diviner  of  things 
hidden,  and  I  know  thee.  Here,  then,  is  what  thou  re- 
(juirest,  and  conceal  not  from  me  thy  necessity  another 
time,  my  husband!' 

Upon  that  she  pointed  his  eye  to  the  money-bags  of 
gold  and  of  silver.  Almeryl  was  amazed,  and  asked  her, 
'  How  came  these  ?  for  I  was  at  the  last  extremity,  without 
coin  of  any  kind.' 

She  answered,  'Plow,  but  by  the  Serpents!' 

And  he  exclaimed,  'Would  that  I  might  work  as  that 
porter  worketh,  rather  than  this!' 

Now,  seeing  he  bewailed  her  use  of  the  powers  of  the 
Jewel,  Bhanavar  fell  between  his  arms,  and  related  to  him 
her  discovery  of  his  condition,  and  how  she  disposed  of 
the  Jewel  to  the  broker,  and  of  the  scourging  of  Boolp; 
and  he  praised  her,  and  clave  to  her,  and  they  laughed 
and  delighted  their  souls  in  plenteousness,  and  bliss  was 
their  portion;   as  the  poet  says. 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  65 

Bliss  that  is  born  of  mutual  esteem 
And  tried  companionship,  I  truly  deem 
A  well-based  palace,  wherein  fountains  rise 
From  springs  that  have  their  sources  in  the  skies. 

So  were  they  for  awhile.  It  happened  that  one  day, 
that  was  the  last  day  of  the  year  since  her  wearing  of  the 
Jewel,  Ukleet  said  to  them,  'Be  wary!  the  Vizier  As- 
warak  hath  his  eye  on  you,  and  it  is  no  cool  one.  I  say 
nothing:  the  wise  are  discreet  in  their  tellings  of  the 
great.  'Tis  certain  the  broker  Boolp  forgetteth  not  his 
treatment  here.' 

They  smiled,  turning  to  each  other,  and  said,  'We  live 
innocently,  we  harm  no  one,  what  should  we  fear?' 

During  the  night  of  that  day  Bhanavar  awoke  and 
kissed  the  Prince;  and  lo!  he  shuddered  in  his  sleep  as 
with  the  grave-cold.  A  second  time  she  was  awakened  on 
the  breast  of  Almeryl  by  a  dream  of  the  Serpents  of  the 
Lake  Karatis — the  lake  of  the  Jewel;  and  she  stood  up, 
and  there  was  in  the  street  a  hum  of  voices,  and  she  saw 
there  before  the  house  armed  men  with  naked  steel  in  their 
hands.  Scarce  had  she  called  Almeryl  to  her,  when  the 
outer  door  of  their  house  was  forced,  and  she  shrieked  to 
him,  "Tis  thou  they  come  for:  fly,  0  my  Prince,  my 
husband!  the  way  of  the  garden  is  clear.' 

But  he  said  sadly,  'Nay,  what  am  I?  it  is  thou  they 
would  win  from  me.     I  '11  leave  thee  not  in  this  life.' 

So  she  cried,  '0  my  soul,  then  together! — but  I  shall 
hinder  thee,  and  be  a  burden  to  thy  flight.' 

And  she  called  on  the  All-powerful  for  aid,  and  ran 
with  him  into  the  garden  of  the  house,  and  lo !  by  the  water 
side  at  the  end  of  the  garden  a  boat  full  of  armed  sol- 
diers with  scimitars.  So  these  fell  upon  them,  and  bound 
them,  and  haled  them  into  the  house  again,  where  was  the 
dark  Vizier  Aswarak,  and  certain  officers  of  the  night- 


06  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

wiitcli  witli  a  force.  The  \'izier  cried  when  he  saw  them, 
'I  accuse  thee,  Prince  Ahneryl,  of  being  here  in  the  city 
of  our  lord  the  King,  to  conspire  against  him  and  his 
authority.' 

Almeryl  faced  the  Vizier  firmly,  and  replied,  'I  knew 
not  in  my  life  I  had  made  an  enemy;  but  there  is  one  here 
who  telleth  that  of  me.' 

The  Vizier  frowned,  saying,  'Thou  deniest  this?  And 
thou  here,  and  thy  father  at  war  with  the  sovereignty  of 
our  lord  the  King!' 

Almeryl  beheld  his  danger,  and  he  said,  'Is  this  so?' 

Then  cried  the  Vizier,  'Hear  him!  is  not  that  a  fair 
simulation?'  So  he  called  to  the  guard,  'Shackle  him!' 
When  that  was  done,  he  ordered  the  house  to  be  sacked, 
and  the  women  and  the  slaves  he  divided  for  a  spoil,  but 
he  reserved  Bhanavar  to  himself:  and  lo!  twice  she  burst 
away  from  them  that  held  her  to  hang  upon  the  lips  of 
Almeryl,  and  twice  was  she  torn  from  him  as  a  grape- 
l)unch  is  torn  from  the  streaming  vine,  and  the  third  time 
she  swooned  and  the  anguish  of  life  loft  her. 

Now,  Bhanavar  was  borne  to  the  harem  of  the  Vizier, 
and  for  days  she  suffered  no  morsel  of  food  to  enter  her 
mouth,  and  was  dying,  had  not  the  \^izier  in  the  cunning 
of  his  dissinmlation  fed  her  with  distant  glimpses  of  Al- 
meryl, to  show  her  he  yet  lived.  Then  she  thought, 
'While  my  beloved  liveth,  hfe  is  due  to  me';  and  she  ate 
and  drank  and  reassumed  her  fair  fulness  and  the  queenli- 
ness  that  was  hers;  but  the  Vizier  had  no  love  of  her,  and 
respected  her,  considering  in  his  mind,  'Time  will  ex- 
haust the  fury  of  this  tigress,  and  she  is  a  fruit  worth  the 
waiting  for.  Wullahy!  I  shall  have  possessed  her  ere  the 
days  of  over-ripening.' 

There  was  in  the  harem  of  the  Vizier  a  mountain-girl 
that  had  been  brought  there  in  her  childhood,  and  trained 
to  play  upon  the  lute  and  accompany  her  voice  with  the 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  67 

instrument.  To  this  little  damsel  Bhanavar  gave  her 
heart,  and  would  Hsten  all  day,  as  in  a  trance,  to  her 
luting,  till  the  desire  to  escape  from  that  bondage  and 
gather  tidings  of  Almeryl  mastered  her,  and  she  persuaded 
one  of  the  blacks  of  the  harem  with  a  bribe  to  procure 
her  an  interview  with  the  porter  Ukleet.  So  at  a  cer- 
tain hour  of  the  night  Ukleet  was  introduced  into  the 
garden  of  the  harem,  and  he  was  in  the  darkness  of  that 
garden  a  white-faced  porter  with  knees  that  knocked  the 
dread-march  together;  but  Bhanavar  strengthened  his 
soul,  and  he  said  to  her,  "Twas  the  doing  of  Boolp  the 
broker:  and  he  whispered  the  Vizier  of  thee  and  thy 
beauty,  O  my  mistress!  Surely  thy  punishment  and  this 
ruin  is  but  part  payment  to  Boolp  of  the  price  of  the 
Jewel,  the  great  Jewel  that 's  in  the  hands  of  the  Vizier.' 

Then  she  questioned  him:  'And  Almeryl,  the  Prince, 
my  husband,  what  of  him?' 

Ukleet  was  dumb,  and  Bhanavar  asked  to  hear  no  more. 
Surely  she  was  at  the  gates  of  pale  spirits  within  an  hour 
of  her  interview  with  Ukleet,  and  there  was  no  blessed- 
ness for  her  save  in  death,  the  stifler  of  ills,  the  drug  that 
is  infallible.    As  is  said: 

Dark  is  that  last  stage  of  sorrow 
Which  from  Death  alone  can  borrow 
Comfort: — 

Bhanavar  would  have  died  then,  but  in  a  certain  pause 
of  her  fever  the  Vizier  stood  by  her.  She  looked  at  him 
long  as  she  lay,  and  the  life  in  her  large  eyes  was  ebbing 
away  slowly;  but  there  seemed  presently  a  check,  as  an 
eddy  comes  in  the  stream,  and  the  light  of  intelligence 
flowed  like  a  reviving  fire  into  her  eyes,  and  her  heart 
quickened  with  desire  of  life  while  she  looked  on  the  Vizier. 
So  she  passed  the  pitch  of  that  fever,  and  bloomed  anew  in 
her  beauty,  and  cherished  it,  for  she  had  a  purpose. 


08  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Now,  there  was  rejoicing  in  the  harem  of  the  Vizier 
Aswarak  when  Bhanavar  arose  from  the  couch;  and  the 
Vizier  cxultctl,  thiiildng,  'I  have  tamed  this  wild  beauty, 
or  she  had  reached  death  in  that  extremity.'  So  he  al- 
lowed Bhanavar  greater  freedom  and  intlulgences,  and 
Bhanavar  feigned  to  give  her  soul  to  the  pleasures  women 
delight  m,  and  the  Vizier  buried  her  in  gems  and  trinkets 
and  costly  raiment,  robes  of  exquisite  silks,  the  choicest 
of  Samarcand  and  China;  and  he  permitted  her  to  make 
purchases  among  certain  of  the  warehouses  of  the  city  and 
the  shops  of  the  tradesmen,  jewellers  and  others,  so  that 
she  went  about  as  she  would,  but  for  the  slaves  that  at- 
tended her  and  the  overseer  of  the  harem.  This  continued, 
and  Aswarak  became  urgent  with  her,  and  to  remove  sus- 
picion from  him  she  named  a  day  from  that  period  when 
she  would  be  his.  Meantime  she  contrived  to  see  Ukleet 
the  porter  frequently,  and  within  a  week  of  her  engage- 
ment with  the  Vizier  she  gazed  from  a  lattice-window  of 
the  harem,  and  beheld  in  the  garden,  by  the  beams  of  the 
moon,  Ukleet,  and  he  was  looking  as  on  the  watch  for  her. 
So  she  sent  to  him  the  little  mountain-girl  she  loved,  but 
Ukleet  would  tell  her  nothing;  then  went  she  herself, 
greeting  him  graciously,  for  his  service  was  other  than  that 
of  self-seeking. 

Ukleet  said,  '0  Lady,  mistress  of  hearts,  moon  of  the 
tides  of  will!  'tis  certain  I  was  thy  slave  from  the  hour  I 
beheld  thee  first,  and  of  the  Prince,  thy  husband;  Allah 
rest  his  soul!  Now  these  be  my  tidings.  AWillahy!  the 
King  is  one  maddened  with  the  reports  I've  spread  about 
of  thy  beauty,  yea!  raging.  And  I  have  a  friend  in  his 
palace,  even  an  under-cook,  acute  in  the  interpreting  of 
wishes.  There  was  he  always  gabbUng  of  thy  case,  0  my 
Princess,  till  the  head-cook  seized  hold  on  it,  and  so  it  went 
to  the  chamberlain,  thence  to  the  chief  of  the  eunuchs, 
and  from  him  in  a  natural  course,  to  the  King.     Now  from 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  69 

the  King  the  tracking  of  this  tale  went  to  the  under-cook 
down  again,  and  from  him  to  me.  So  was  I  summoned  to 
the  King,  and  the  King  discoursed  with  me — I  with  him, 
in  fair  fluency;  he  in  ejaculations  of  desire  to  have  sight 
of  thee,  I  in  expatiation  on  that  he  would  see  when  he  had 
his  desire.  Now  in  this  have  I  not  done  thee  a  service, 
0  sovereign  of  fancies?' 

Bhanavar  mused  and  said,  '  On  the  after-morrow  I  pass 
through  the  city  to  make  a  selection  of  goods,  and  I  shall 
pass  at  noon  by  the  great  mosque,  on  my  way  to  the  shop 
of  Ebn  Roulchook,  the  iCing's  jeweller,  beyond  the  meat- 
market.  Of  a  surety,  I  know  not  how  my  lord  the  King 
may  see  me. ' 

Said  the  porter,  "Tis  enough!  on  my  head  be  it.'  And 
he  went  from  her,  singing  the  song: 

How  litde  a  thing  serves  Fortune's  turn 

When  she  's  intent  on  doing! 
How  easily  the  world  may  burn 

When  kings  come  out  a-wooing! 

Now,  ere  she  set  forth  on  the  after-morrow  to  make  her 
purchases,  Bhanavar  sent  word  to  the  Vizier  Aswarak 
that  she  would  see  him,  and  he  came  to  her  drunken  with 
alacrity,  for  he  augured  favourably  that  her  reluctance 
was  melting  toward  him:  so  she  said,  '0  my  master,  my 
time  of  mourning  is  at  an  end,  and  I  would  look  well  before 
thee,  even  as  one  worthy  of  being  thy  bride;  so  bestow  on 
me,  I  pray  thee,  for  my  wearing  that  day,  the  jewels  that 
be  in  thy  treasury,  the  brightest  and  clearest  of  them,  and 
the  largest.' 

The  Vizier  Aswarak  replied,  and  he  was  one  in  great 
satisfaction  of  soul,  'All  that  I  have  are  thine.  Wullahy! 
and  one,  a  marvel,  that  I  bought  of  Boolp  the  broker,  that 
had  it  from  an  African  merchant. '  So  he  commanded  the 
box  wherein  he  had  deposited  the  Jewel  to  be  brought  to 


70  THE  SILWIXG  OF  SHAGPAT 

him  there  in  tlic  cluiiiiber  of  Bhanavar,  and  took  fortli 
the  Serpent  Jewel  between  his  forefinger  and  thumb,  and 
laughed  at  the  eager  eyes  of  Bhanavar  when  she  beheld  it, 
sa>'ing,  '  'Tis  thine!  thy  bridal  gift  the  day  I  possess  thee.' 

Bhanavar  trembled  at  the  sight  of  the  Jewel,  and  its 
redness  was  to  her  as  the  blood  of  Zurvan  and  Almeryl. 
She  stretched  her  hand  out  for  it  and  cried,  'This  day, 
0  my  lord,  make  it  mine. ' 

So  the  Vizier  said,  '  Nay,  what  I  have  spoken  will  I  keep 
to;  it  has  cost  me  much.' 

Bhanavar  looked  at  him,  and  uttered  in  a  soft  tone, 
'Truly  it  has  cost  thee  much.' 

Then  she  exclaimed,  as  in  play,  '  Sec  me,  how  I  look  by 
its  beam. '  And  in  her  guile  she  snatched  the  Jewel  from 
him,  and  held  it  to  her  brow.  Then  Aswarak  started  from 
her  and  feared  her,  for  the  red  light  of  the  Jewel  glowed, 
and  darkened  the  chambei-  with  its  beam,  darkening  all 
save  the  lustre  that  was  on  the  visage  of  Bhanavar.  He 
shouted,  'What's  this!  Art  thou  a  sorceress?' 

She  removed  the  Jewel,  and  ceased  glaring  on  him,  and 
said,  'Nothing  but  thy  poor  slave!' 

Then  he  coaxed  her  to  give  him  the  Jewel,  and  she  would 
not;  he  commanded  her  jicrcmptorily,  and  she  hesitated; 
so  he  grasped  her  tightened  hand,  and  his  face  loured  with 
wrath;  yet  she  withheld  the  Jewel  from  him  laughing; 
and  he  was  stirred  to  extreme  wrath,  and  drew  from  his 
girdle  the  naked  scimitar,  and  menaced  her  with  it.  And 
he  looked  mighty;  but  she  dreaded  him  little,  and  stood 
her  full  height  before  him,  daring  him,  and  she  was  as  the 
tigress  defending  a  cub  from  a  wilder  beast.  Now  when 
he  was  ab(jut  to  call  in  the  armed  slaves  of  the  palace,  she 
said,  'I  warn  thee,  Vizier  Aswarak!  tempt  me  not  to 
match  them  that  serve  me  witii  them  that  serve  thee.' 

He  ground  his  teeth  in  fury,  crying,  'A  conspiracy!  and 
in  the  harem!   Now,  thou  traitress!   the  logic  of  the  lash 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  71 

shall  be  tried  upon  thee.'     And  he  roared,  'Ho!  ye  with- 
out there!  ho!' 

But  ere  the  slaves  had  entered  Bhanavar  rubbed  the 
Jewel  on  her  bosom,  muttering,  '  I  have  forborne  till  now ! 
Now  will  I  have  a  sacrifice,  though  I  be  it. '  And  rubbing 
the  Jewel,  she  sang, — 

Hither!   hither! 

Come  to  your  Queen; 
Come  through  the  grey  wall, 

Come  through  the  green! 

There  was  heard  a  noise  like  the  noise  of  a  wind  coming 
down  a  narrow  gorge  above  falling  waters,  a  hissing  and  a 
rushing  of  wings,  and  behold!  Bhanavar  was  circled  by 
rings  and  rings  of  serpent-folds  that  glowed  round  her, 
twisted  each  in  each,  with  the  fierceness  of  fire,  she  like  a 
flame  rising  up  white  in  the  midst  of  them.  The  black 
slaves,  when  they  had  lifted  the  curtain  of  the  harem- 
chamber,  shrieked  to  see  her,  and  Aswarak  crouched  at 
her  feet  with  the  aspect  of  an  angry  beast  carved  in  stone. 
Then  Bhanavar  loosed  on  either  of  the  slaves  a  serpent, 
saying,  'What  these  have  seen  they  shall  not  say.'  And 
while  the  sweat  dropped  heavily  from  the  forehead  of 
Aswarak,  she  stepped  out  of  the  circle  of  serpents,  singing, 

Over!   over! 

Hie  to  the  lake! 
Sleep  with  the  left  eye, 

Keep  the  right  awake. 

Then  the  serpents  spread  with  a  great  whirr,  and  flew 
through  the  high  window  and  the  walls  as  they  had  come, 
and  she  said  to  the  Vizier,  'What  now?  Fearest  thou? 
I  have  spared  thee,  thou  that  madest  me  desolate!  and 
thy  slaves  are  a  sacrifice  for  thee.  Now  this  I  ask:  Where 
Hes  my  beloved,  the  Prince  my  husband  ?  Speak  nothing 
of  him,  save  the  place  of  his  burial!' 


72  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

So  he  told  her,  'In  the  burial-ground  of  the  great 
prison. ' 

She  rolled  her  eyes  on  the  Vizier  darkly,  exclaiming, 
'Even  where  the  felons  lie  entombed,  he  lieth!'  And  she 
]3egan  to  pant,  ]iale  with  what  she  had  done,  and  leaned 
to  the  floor,  and  called, — 

Yellow  stripe,  with  freckle  red, 

Coil  and  curl,  and  watch  by  ray  head. 

And  a  serpent  with  yellow  stripes  and  red  freckles  came 
like  a  javelin  down  to  her,  and  coiled  and  curled  round 
her  head,  and  she  slept  an  hour.  When  she  arose  the 
Vizier  was  yet  there,  sitting  with  folded  knees.  So  she 
sped  the  serpent  to  the  Lake  Karatis,  and  called  her  women 
to  her,  and  went  to  an  inner  room,  and  drew  an  outer 
robe  and  a  vest  over  that  she  had  on,  and  passed  the 
Vizier,  and  said,  'Art  thou  not  rejoiced  in  thy  bride,  0 
Aswarak?  'Twas  a  wondrous  clemency,  hers!  Now  but 
four  more  days  and  thou  claimest  her.  Say  nothmg  of 
what  thou  hast  seen,  or  thou  wilt  shortly  see  nothing 
further  to  say,  my  master. ' 

So  she  left  the  Vizier  sitting  still  in  that  chamber,  and 
mounted  a  mule,  attended  by  slaves  on  foot  before  and 
behind  her,  and  passed  through  the  streets  till  she  came 
to  the  shop  of  Ebn  Roulchook.  The  King  was  in  disguise 
at  the  extremity  of  the  shop,  and  while  she  examined  this 
and  that  of  the  precious  stones,  Bhanavar  for  a  moment 
made  bare  the  beauty  of  her  face,  and  love's  fires  took 
fast  hold  of  the  King,  and  he  cried,  '  I  marvel  not  at  the 
eloquence  of  the  porter.' 

Now,  she  made  Ebn  Roulchook  bring  to  her  a  circlet  of 
gold,  with  a  hollow  in  the  frontal  centre,  and  fit  into  that 
hollow  the  Serpent  Jewel.  So,  while  she  laughed  and 
chatted  with  her  women  Bhanavar  lifted  the  circlet,  and 
made  her  countenance  wholly  bare  even  to  the  neck  and 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  73 

the  beginning  slope  of  the  bosom,  and  fixed  the  circlet  to 
her  head  with  the  Jewel  burning  on  her  brow.  Then  when 
he  beheld  the  glory  of  excelling  loveliness  that  she  was, 
and  the  splendour  in  her  eyes  under  the  Jewel,  the  King 
shouted  and  parted  with  his  disguise,  and  Ebn  Roulchook 
and  the  women  and  slaves  with  Bhanavar  fled  to  the  court- 
yard that  was  behind  the  shop,  leaving  Bhanavar  alone 
with  the  King.  Surely  Bhanavar  returned  not  to  the 
dwelling  of  the  Vizier. 

Now,  the  King  Mashalleed  espoused  Bhanavar,  and  she 
became  his  queen  and  ruled  him,  and  her  word  was  the 
dictate  of  the  land.  Then  caused  she  the  body  of  Almeryl, 
with  the  severed  head  of  the  Prince,  to  be  disinterred,  and 
entombed  secretly  in  the  palace;  and  she  had  lamps  lit  in 
the  vault,  and  the  pall  spread,  and  the  readers  of  the  Koran 
to  read  by  the  tomb ;  and  then  she  stole  to  the  tomb  hourly, 
in  the  day  and  in  the  night,  wailing  of  him  and  her  utter 
misery,  repeating  verses  at  the  side  of  the  tomb,  and  they 
were, — 

Take  me  to  thee! 
Like  the  deep-rooted  tree, 
My  life  is  half  in  earth,  and  draws 
Thence  all  sweetness;  oh  may  my  being  pause 
Soon  beside  thee! 

Welcome  me  soon! 
As  to  the  queenly  moon, 
Man's  homage  to  my  beauty  sets; 
Yet  am  I  a  rose-shrub  budding  regrets: 
Welcome  me  soon. 

Soul  of  my  soul! 
Have  me  not  half,  but  whole. 
Dear  dust,  thou  art  my  eyes,  my  breath! 
Draw  me  to  thee  down  the  dark  sea  of  death, 
Soul  of  my  soul! 


74  TPIE  SIIA\7NG  OF  SHAGPAT 

And  she  sang: 

Sad  are  they  who  drink  Hfe'.s  cup 

Till  they  have  come  to  the  bitter-sweet: 
Better  at  once  to  toss  it  up, 

And  trample  it  beneath  the  feet; 
For  venom-charged  as  serpents'  eggs 
'Tis  then,  and  knows  not  other  change. 
Early,  early,  early,  have  I  reached  the  dregs 
Of  life,  and  loathe  and  love  the  bitter-sweet,  revenge! 

Then  turned  she  aside,  and  sang  musingly: 

I  came  to  his  arms  like  the  flower  of  the  spring, 
And  he  was  my  bird  of  the  radiant  wing: 
He  flutter'd  above  me  a  moment,  and  won 
The  bliss  of  my  breast  as  a  beam  of  the  sun, 
Untouch'd  and  untasted  till  then — 

The  voice  in  her  throat  was  like  a  drowning  creature,  and 
she  rose  up,  and  chanted  wildly: 

I  weep  again  ? 
Wliat  play  is  this?  for  the  thing  is  dead  in  me  long  since: 
Will  all  the  reviving  rain 
Of  heaven  bring  me  back  mv  Prince? 
But  I,  when  I  weep,  when  1  weep, 
Blood  will  I  weep! 
And  when  I  weep, 
Sons  for  fathers  shall  weep; 
Mothers  for  sons  siiall  weep; 
Wives  for  husbands  shall  weep! 
Earth  shall  complain  of  floods  red  and  deep, 
When  I  weep! 

Upon  that  she  ran  up  a  secret  passage  to  her  chamber  and 
rul)bed  the  Jewel,  and  called  the  serpents,  to  delight  her 
soul  with  the  sight  of  her  power,  and  rolled  and  sported 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  75 

madly  among  them,  clutching  them  by  the  necks  till  their 
thin  little  red  tongues  hung  out,  and  their  eyes  were  as 
discoloured  blisters  of  venom.  Then  she  arose,  and  her 
arms  and  neck  and  lips  were  glazed  with  the  slime  of  the 
serpents,  and  she  flung  off  her  robes  to  the  close-fitting 
silken  inner  vest  looped  across  her  bosom  with  pearls,  and 
whirled  in  a  mazy  dance-measure  among  them,  and  sang 
melancholy  melodies,  making  them  delirious,  fascinating 
them;  and  they  followed  her  round  and  round,  m  twines 
and  twists  and  curves,  with  arched  heads  and  stiffened 
tails;  and  the  chamber  swam  like  an  undulating  sea  of 
shifting  sapphire  lit  by  the  moon  of  midnight.  Not  before 
the  moon  of  midnight  was  in  the  sky  ceased  Bhanavar 
sporting  with  the  serpents,  and  she  sank  to  sleep  exhausted 
in  their  midst. 

Such  was  the  occupation  of  the  Queen  of  Mashalleed 
when  he  came  not  to  her.  The  women  and  slaves  of  the 
palace  dreaded  her,  and  the  Kuig  himself  was  her  very  slave. 

Meanwhile  the  plot  of  her  unforgivingness  against  As- 
warak  ripened:  and  the  Vizier  beholding  the  bride  he  had 
lost  Queen  of  ]\Iashalleed  his  master,  it  was  as  she  con- 
ceived, that  his  heart  was  eaten  with  jealousy  and  fierce 
rage.  Bhanavar  as  she  came  across  him  spake  mildly,  and 
gave  him  gentle  looks,  sad  glances,  suffering  not  his  fires 
to  abate,  the  torment  of  his  love  to  cool.  Each  night  he 
awoke  with  a  serpent  in  his  bed;  the  beam  of  her  beauty 
was  as  the  constant  bite  of  a  serpent,  poisoning  his  blood, 
and  he  deluded  his  soul  with  the  belief  that  Bhanavar 
loved  him  notwithstanding,  and  that  she  was  seized  for- 
cibly from  him  by  the  King.  'Otherwise,'  thought  he, 
'why  loosed  she  not  a  serpent  from  the  host  to  strangle 
me  even  as  yonder  black  slaves?'  Bhanavar  knew  the 
mind  of  Aswarak,  and  considered,  'The  King  is  cunning 
and  weak,  a  slave  to  his  desires,  and  in  the  bondage  of  the 
jewel,  my  beauty.     The  Vizier  is  unscrupulous,  a  hatcher 


76  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

of  intrip;ucs;  but  that  he  dreads  me  and  hopes  a  favour 
of  me,  he  would  have  wrought  against  me  ere  now.  'Tis 
then  a  combat  'twLxt  him  and  me.  0  my  soul,  art  thou 
dreaming  of  a  fair  youth  that  was  the  bliss  of  thy  bosom 
night  antl  day,  night  and  day  ?    The  Vizier  shall  die ! ' 

One  morrdng,  and  it  was  a  year  from  the  day  she  had 
become  Queen  of  Mashalleed,  Bhanavar  sprang  up  (luickly 
from  the  side  of  the  King;  and  he  was  gazing  on  her  in 
amazement  and  loathing.  She  flew  to  her  chamber,  cha- 
sing forth  her  w^omen,  and  ran  to  a  mirror.  Therein  she 
saw  three  lines  that  were  on  her  brow,  lines  of  age,  and  at 
the  corners  of  her  mouth  and  about  her  throat  a  slackness 
of  skin,  the  skin  no  longer  its  soft  rosy  white,  but  with- 
ered brown  as  leaves  of  the  forest.  She  shrieked,  and  fell 
back  in  a  swoon  of  horror.  When  she  recovered,  she  ran 
to  the  mirror  again,  and  it  was  the  same  sight.  And  she 
rose  from  swooning  a  third  time,  and  still  she  beheld  the 
visage  of  a  hag;  nothing  of  beauty  there  save  the  hair  and 
the  brilliant  eyes.  Then  summoned  she  the  serpents  in  a 
circle,  and  the  number  of  them  w-as  that  of  the  days  in  the 
year:  and  she  bared  her  wrist  and  seized  one,  a  gray- 
silver  with  sapphire  spots,  and  hissed  at  him  till  he  hissed, 
and  foam  whitened  the  lips  of  each.     Thereupon  she  cried: 

Treble-tongue  and  throat  of  hell, 
What  is  come  upon  me,  tell! 

And  the  Serpent  replied. 

Jewel  Queen!   beauty's  price! 
'Tis  the  time  for  sacrifice! 

She  grasped  another,  one  of  leaden  colour,  with  yellow 
bars  and  silver  crescents,  and  cried: 

Treble-tongue  and  throat  of  fire, 
Name  the  creature  ye  require! 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  77 

And  the  Serpent  replied: 

Ruby  lip!   poison  tooth! 
We  are. hungry  for  a  youth. 

She  grasped  another  that  writhed  in  her  fingers  like 
liquid  emerald,  and  cried: 

Treble-tongue  and  throat  of  glue! 
How  to  know  the  one  that 's  due  ? 

And  the  Serpent  replied: 

Breast  of  snow!   baleful  bliss! 
He  that  wooing  wins  a  kiss. 

She  clutched  one  at  her  elbow,  a  hairy  serpent  with 
yellow  languid  eyes  in  flame-sockets  and  livid-lustrous 
length — a  disease  to  look  on,  and  cried: 

Treble-tongue  and  throat  of  gall! 
There  's  a  youth  beneath  the  pall. 

And  the  Serpent  replied: 

Brilliant  eye!   bloody  tear! 
He  has  fed  us  for  a  year. 

She  squeezed  that  hairy  serpent  till  her  finger-points 
whitened  in  his  neck,  and  he  dropped  hfelessly,  crying: 

Treble-tongues  and  things  of  mud! 
Sprang  my  beauty  from  his  blood? 

And  the  Serpents  rose  erect,  replying: 

Yearly  one  of  us  must  die; 

Yearly  for  us  dieth  one; 
Else  the  Queen  an  ugly  lie 

Lives  till  all  our  lives  be  done! 


78  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Bhanavar  stood  up,  and  hurried  them  to  Karatis. 
When  she  was  alone  she  fell  toward  the  floor,  repeating, 
"Tis  the  Curse!'  Suddenly  she  thought,  'Yet  another 
year  my  beauty  shall  be  nourished  by  my  vengeance,  yet 
another!  And,  O  Vizier,  the  kiss  shall  be  thine,  the  kiss 
of  doom;  for  I  have  doomed  thee  ere  now.  Thou,  thou 
shalt  restore  me  to  my  beauty:  that  only  love  I  now  my 
Prince  is  lost.' 

So  she  veiled  her  face  in  the  close  veil  of  the  virtuous, 
and  despatched  Ukleet,  w^hom  she  exalted  in  the  palace  of 
the  King,  to  the  Vizier;  and  Ukleet  stood  before  Aswarak, 
and  said,  '0  Vizier,  my  mistress  truly  is  longing  for  you 
with  excessive  longing,  and  in  what  she  now  undergoeth 
is  forgotten  an  evil  done  by  you  to  her;  and  she  bids  you 
come  and  concert  with  her  a  scheme  deliberately  as  to  the 
getting  rid  of  this  tyrant  who  is  an  affliction  to  her,  and 
her  life  is  lessened  by  him.' 

The  Vizier  was  deceived  by  his  passion,  and  he  chuckled 
and  exclaimed,  'My  very  dream!  and  to  mind  me  of  her, 
then,  she  sent  the  serpents!  Wullahy,  in  the  matter  of 
women,  wait!     For,  as  the  poet  declareth: 

"  'Tis  vanity  our  souls  for  such  to  vex; 
Patience  is  a  harvest  of  the  sex." 

And  they  fret  themselves  not  overlong  for  husbands  that 
are  gone,  these  young  beauties.  I  know  them.  Tell  the 
Queen  of  Serpents  I  am  even  hers  to  the  sole  of  my  foot.' 

So  it  was  understood  between  them  that  the  Vizier 
should  be  at  the  gate  of  the  garden  of  the  palace  that 
night,  disguised;  and  the  Vizier  rejoiced,  thinking,  'If 
she  have  not  the  Jewel  with  her,  it  shall  go  ill  with  me, 
and  I  foiled  this  time!' 

Ukleet  then  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Boolp  the  broker, 
fronting  the  gutted  ruins  where  Bhanavar  had  been  happy 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  79 

in  her  innocence  with  Almeryl,  the  mountain  prince,  her 
husband.  Boolp  was  engaged  hagghng  with  a  slave-mer- 
chant the  price  of  a  fair  slave,  and  Ukleet  said  to  him, 
'Yet  awhile  delay,  0  Boolp,  ere  you  expend  a  fraction  of 
treasure,  for  truly  a  mighty  bargain  of  jewels  is  waiting 
for  you  at  the  palace  of  my  lord  the  King.  So  come 
thither  with  all  your  money-bags  of  gold  and  silver,  and 
your  securities,  and  your  bonds  and  dues  in  writing,  for 
'tis  the  favourite  of  the  King  requireth  you  to  complete 
a  bargain  with  her,  and  the  price  of  her  jewels  is  the  price 
of  a  kingdom.' 

Said  Boolp,  'Hearing  is  compliance  in  such  a  case.' 
And  Ukleet  continued,  'What  a  fortune  is  yours,  O 
Boolp!  truly  the  tide  of  fortune  setteth  into  your  lap. 
Fail  not,  wullahy!  to  come  ^i^dth  all  you  possess,  or  if  you 
have  not  enough  when  she  requireth  it  to  complete  the 
bargain,  my  mistress  will  break  off  with  you.  I  know  not 
if  she  intend  even  other  game  for  you,  O  lucky  one!' 

Boolp  hitched  his  girdle  and  shrugged,  saying,  "Tis 
she  will  fail,  I  wot, — she,  in  ha\ang  therewith  to  com- 
plete the  bargain  between  us.  Wa!  wa! — there!  I  've 
done  this  before  now.  Wullahy!  if  she  have  not  enough 
of  her  rubies  and  pearls  to  outweigh  me  and  my  gold,  go 
to,  Boolp  will  school  her!    What  says  the  poet? — 

"Earth  and  ocean  search,  East,  West,  and  North,  to  the 

South, 
None  will  match  the  bright  rubies  and  pearls  of  her  mouth." 

'Aha!  what?  0  Ukleet!    And  he  says: 

"The  lovely  ones  a  bargain  made 
With  me,  and  I  renounced  my  trade, 

Half-ruined;   'Ah I'  said  they,  'return  and  win! 

To  even  scales  ourselves  we  will  throw  in!'" 


so  Till-:  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

How  so?  But  let  (.liscrcctncss  reign  and  security  flour- 
ishcth!' 

Ukleet  nodded  at  him,  and  repeated  the  distich: 

^len  of  worth  and  men  of  wits 

Shoot  with  two  arrows,  and  make  two  hits. 

So  ho  arranged  with  Boolp  the  same  appointment  as  with 
the  Vizier,  and  returned  to  Queen  Bhanavar. 

Now,  in  the  dark  of  night  Aswarak  stood  within  the 
gate  of  the  palace-garden  of  Mashalleed  that  was  ajar, 
and  a  hand  from  a  veiled  figure  reached  to  him,  and  he 
caught  it,  in  the  fulness  of  his  delusion,  crying,  'Thou,  my 
Queen?'  But  the  hand  signified  silence,  and  drew  him 
past  the  tank  of  the  garden  and  through  a  court  of  the 
palace  into  a  passage  lit  with  lamps,  and  on  into  a  close- 
curtained  chamber,  and  beyond  a  heavy  curtain  into 
another,  a  circular  passage  descending  between  black 
hangings,  and  at  the  bottom  a  square  vault  draped  with 
black,  and  in  it  precious  woods  burning,  oils  in  censers,  and 
the  odour  of  ambergris  and  myrrh  and  musk  floating  in 
clouds,  and  the  sight  of  the  Vizier  was  for  a  time  obscured 
by  the  thickness  of  the  incenses  floating.  As  he  became 
familiar  with  the  place,  he  saw  marked  therein  a  board 
spread  at  one  end  with  viands  and  wines,  and  the  nosegay 
in  a  water-vase,  and  cups  of  gold  and  a  service  of  gold, — 
every  preparation  for  feasting  mightily.  So  the  soul  of 
Aswarak  leapt,  and  he  cried,  'Now  unveil  thyself,  O  moon 
of  our  meeting,  my  mistress!' 

The  voice  of  Bhanavar  answered  him,  '  Not  till  we  have 
feasted  and  drunken,  and  it  seemcth  little  in  our  eyes. 
Surely  the  chamber  is  secure:  could  I  have  chosen  one 
better  for  our  meeting,  0  Aswarak?' 

Upon  that  he  entreatetl  her  to  sit  with  him  to  the  feast, 
but  she  cried,  'Nay!  delay  till  the  other  is  come.' 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  81 

Cried  he,  'Another?' 

But  she  exclaimed,  'Hush!'  and  saying  thus  went  for- 
ward to  the  foot  of  the  passage,  and  Boolp  was  there, 
following  UMeet,  both  of  them  under  a  weight  of  bags 
and  boxes.  So  she  welcomed  the  broker,  and  led  him  to 
the  feast,  he  coughing  and  wheezing  and  blinking,  un- 
witting the  vexation  of  the  Vizier,  nor  that  one  other  than 
himself  was  there.  When  Boolp  heard  the  voice  of  the 
Vizier,  in  astonishment,  addressing  him,  he  started  back 
and  fell  upon  his  bags,  and  the  task  of  coaxing  him  to  the 
board  was  as  that  of  haling  a  distempered  beast  to  the 
water.  Then  they  sat  and  feasted  together,  and  Ukleet 
with,  them;  and  if  Aswarak  or  Boolp  waxed  impatient  of 
each  other's  presence,  he  whispered  to  them,  'Only  wait! 
see  what  she  reserveth  for  you.'  And  Bhanavar  mused 
with  herself,  'Truly  that  reserved  shall  be  not  long  com- 
ing!' So  they  drank,  and  wine  got  the  mastery  of  As- 
warak, so  that  he  made  no  secret  of  his  passion,  and  began 
to  lean  to  her  and  verse  extemporaneously  in  her  ear; 
and  she  stinted  not  in  her  replies,  answering  to  his  urgency 
in  girlish  guise,  sighing  behind  the  veil,  as  if  under  love's 
influence.     And  the  Vizier  pressed  close,  and  sang: 

'Tis  said  that  love  brings  beauty  to  the  cheeks 
Of  them  that  love  and  meet,  but  mine  are  pale; 

For  merciless  disdain  on  me  she  WTeaks, 

And  hides  her  visage  from  my  passionate  tale: 

I  have  her  only,  only  when  she  speaks. 

Bhanavar,  unveil! 

I  have  thee,  and  I  have  thee  not!     Like  one 

Lifted  by  spirits  to  a  shining  dale 
In  Paradise,  who  seeks  to  leap  and  run 

And  clasp  the  beauty,  but  his  foot  doth  fail, 
For  he  is  blind:  ah!   then  more  woful  none! 

Bhanavar,  unveil! 


82  THE  SliAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

He  thrust  tho  wino-ciip  to  her,  and  she  lifted  it  under 
her  veil,  and  then  sang,  in  answer  to  him: 

My  beauty!    for  thy  worth 

Thank  the  Vizier! 
He  gives  thee  second  hirtli: 

Tluink  the  Vizier! 
His  blooming  form  without  a  fault: 

Hiank  the  Vizier! 
Is  at  thy  foot  in  this  blest  vault: 

Tliank  the  Vizier! 
He  knoweth  not  he  tclleth  such  a  truth, 

Thank  the  Vizier! 
That  thou,  thro'  him,  spring'st  fresh  in  blushing  youth: 

Thank  the  Vizier! 
He  knoweth  little  now,  but  he  shall  soon  be  wise: 

Thank  the  Vizier! 
This  meeting  bringeth  bloom  to  cheeks  and  lips  and  eyes: 

Thank  the  Vizier! 
O  my  beloved  in  this  blest  vault,  if  I  love  thee  for  aye, 

Thank  the  Vizier! 
Thine  am  I,  thine!  and  learns  his  soul  what  it  has  taught — 
to  die, 

Thank  the  Vizier! 

Now,  Aswarak  divined  not  hor  meaning,  and  was  en- 
raptured with  her,  and  cried,  'Wullahy!  so  and  such  thy 
love!  Thine  am  I,  thine!  And  what  a  nmsic  is  thy  voice, 
O  my  mistress!  'Twere  a  bliss  to  Eblis  in  his  torment 
could  he  hear  it.  Life  of  my  head!  and  is  thy  beauty 
increased  by  me?  Nay,  thou  flatterer!'  Then  he  said 
to  her,  'Away  with  these  importunate  dogs!  'tis  the  very 
hour  of  tenderness!  Wullahy!  they  offend  my  nostril: 
stung  am  I  at  the  sight  of  them.' 

She  rejoined, — 

O  A.swarak!   star  of  the  morn!  ^ 

Thou  that  wakenest  my  beauty  from  night  and  scorn. 


THE  STORY  OF  BIL4NAVAR  83 

Thy  time  is  near,  and  when  'tis  come, 
Long  will  a  jackal  howl  that  this  thy  request  had  been  dumb. 
O  Aswarak!   star  of  the  morn! 

So  the  Vizier  imaged  in  his  mind  the  neglect  of  Mashal- 
leed  from  these  words,  and  said,  'Leave  the  King  to  my 
care,  0  Queen  of  Serpents,  and  expend  no  portion  of  thy 
power  on  him;  but  hasten  now  the  going  of  these  fellows; 
my  heart  is  straitened  by  them,  and  I,  wullahy!  would 
gladly  see  a  serpent  round  the  necks  of  either.' 

She  continued, — 

O  Aswarak!   star  of  the  morn! 
Lo!   the  star  must  die  when  splendider  light  is  born; 

In  stronger  floods  the  beam  will  drown: 
Shrink,  thou  puny  orb,  and  dread  to  bring  me  my  crown, 

O  Aswarak!   star  of  the  morn! 

Then  said  she,  'Hark  awhile  at  those  two!  There  's  a 
disputation  between  them.' 

So  they  hearkened,  and  Ukleet  was  pledging  Boolp,  and 
passing  the  cup  to  him;  but  a  sullenness  had  seized  the 
broker,  and  he  refused  it,  and  Ukleet  shouted,  '  Out,  boon- 
fellow!  and  what  a  company  art  thou,  that  thou  refusest 
the  pledge  of  friendliness  ?     Plague  on  all  sulkers ! ' 

And  the  broker,  the  old  miser,  obstinate  as  are  the  half- 
fuddled,  began  to  mumble,  'I  came  not  here  to  drink,  O 
Ukleet,  but  to  make  a  bargain;  and  my  bags  be  here,  and 
I  like  not  yonder  veil,  nor  the  presence  of  yonder  Vizier, 
nor  the  secresy  of  this.  Now,  by  the  Prophet  and  that 
interdict  of  his,  I  '11  drink  no  further.' 

And  Ukleet  said,  '  Let  her  not  mark  your  want  of  fellow- 
ship, or  'twill  go  ill  with  you.  Here  be  fine  wines,  spirited 
wines!  choice  flavours!  and  you  drink  not!  Where  's  the 
soul  in  you,  0  Boolp,  and  where  's  the  life  in  you,  that 
you  yield  her  to  the  Vizier  utterly?  Surely  she  waiteth  a 
gallant  sign  from  you,  so  challenge  her  cheerily.' 


84  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Quoth  Boolp,  'I  caro  not.  Shall  I  leave  my  wealth  and 
all  I  possess  void  of  eyes?  and  she  so  that  I  recognise  her 
not  behind  the  veil  ? ' 

Ukleet  pushed  the  old  miser  jeeringly:  'You  not  recog- 
nise her?  Oh,  Boolp,  a  pretty  dissimulation!  Pledge  her 
now  a  cup  to  the  snatching  of  the  veil,  and  bethink  you  of 
a  fitting  verse,  a  seemly  compliment, — something  sugary.' 

Then  Boolp  smoothed  his  head,  and  was  bothered;  and 
tapped  it,  and  conmienced  repeating  to  Bhanavar: 

I  saw  the  moon  behind  a  cloud, 
And  I  was  cold  as  one  that  's  in  his  shroud : 
And  I  cried,  Moon! — 

Ukleet  chorused  him,  'Moon!'  and  Boolp  was  deranged 
in  what  he  had  to  say,  and  gasped, — 

Moon!   I  cried,  Moon! — and  I  cried.  Moon! 

Then  the  Vizier  and  Ukleet  laughed  till  they  fell  on 
their  backs;  so  Bhanavar  took  up  his  verse  where  he  left 
it,  smging,— 

And  to  the  cry 
Moon  did  make  fair  the  following  reply: 
'Dotard,  be  still!    for  thy  desire 
Is  to  embrace  consuming  fire.' 

Then  said  Boolp,  '  0  my  mistress,  the  laws  of  conviviality 
have  till  now  restrained  me;  but  my  coming  here  was  on 
business,  and  with  me  my  bags,  in  good  faith.  So  let  us 
transact  this  matter  of  the  jewels,  and  after  that  the  song 
of— 

"Th(Mi  and  I 
A  cup  will  try," 

even  as  thou  wilt.' 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  85 

Bhanavar  threw  aside  her  outer  robe  and  veil,  and 
appeared  in  a  dress  of  sumptuous  blue,  spotted  with  gold 
bees;  her  face  veiled  with  a  veil  of  gauzy  silver,  and  she 
was  as  the  moon  in  summer  heavens,  and  strode  ma- 
jestically forward,  saying,  'The  jewels?  'tis  but  one.  Be- 
hold!' 

The  lamps  were  extinguished,  and  in  her  hand  was  the 
glory  of  the  Serpent  Jewel,  no  other  light  save  it  in  the 
vaulted  chamber. 

So  the  old  miser  perked  his  chin  and  brows,  and  cried 
wondering,  'I  know  it,  this  Jewel,  O  my  mistress.' 

She  turned  to  the  Vizier,  and  said,  lifting  the  red  gloom 
of  the  Jewel  on  him,  'And  thou?' 

Aswarak  ate  his  under-lip. 

Then  she  cried,  '  There  's  much  ye  know  in  common, 
ye  two.' 

Thereupon  Bhanavar  passed  from  the  feast  on  to  the 
centre  of  the  vault,  and  stood  before  the  tomb  of  Almeryl, 
and  drew  the  cloth  from  it;  and  they  saw  by  the  glow  of 
the  Jewel  that  it  was  a  tomb.  When  she  had  mounted 
some  steps  at  the  side  of  the  tomb,  she  beckoned  them  to 
come,  crying,  in  a  voice  of  sobs,  'This  which  is  here,  like- 
wise ye  may  know.' 

So  they  came  with  the  coldness  of  a  mystery  in  their 
blood,  and  looked  as  she  looked  intently  over  the  tomb. 
The  lid  was  of  glass,  and  through  the  glass  of  the  lid  the 
Jewel  flung  a  dark  rosy  ray  on  the  body  of  Almeryl  lying 
beneath  it. 

Now,  the  miser  was  perplexed  at  the  sight ;  but  Aswarak 
stepped  back  wardin  defiance,  bellowing,  "Twas  for  this 
I  was  tricked  to  come  here!  Is  't  fooling  me  a  second 
time?  By  Allah!  look  to  it;  not  a  second  time  will 
Aswarak  be  fooled.' 

Then  she  ran  to  him,  and  exclaimed,  'Fooled?  For 
what  cam'st  thou  to  me?' 


86  THE  «ILV\'ING  OF  SIIAGPAT 

And  he,  foaming  and  grinding  his  broath,  'Tliou  woman 
of  wiles!    0  tiiou  serpent!    but  I'll  be  gone  from  here.' 

So  she  faltered  in  sweetness,  knowing  him  doomed,  and 
loving  to  dally  with  him  in  her  wickedness,  'Indeed  if 
thou  cam'st  not  for  my  kiss ' 

Then  said  the  \'izier,  'Yet  a  further  guile!  Was 't  not 
an  outrage  to  bring  me  here?' 

She  faltered  again,  leaning  the  fair  length  of  her  limbs 
on  a  couch,  '  'Tis  ill  that  wc  are  not  alone,  else  could  these 
lips  convince  thee  well :    else  indeed ! ' 

And  the  Vizier  cried,  'Chase  then  these  intruders  from 
us,  0  thou  sorceress,  and  above  all  serpents  in  power! 
for  thou  poisonest  with  a  touch;  and  the  eye  and  the  ear 
alike  take  in  thy  poisons  greedily.  Thou  overcomest  the 
senses,  the  reason,  the  judgment;  yea,  \'indictiveness, 
wrath,  suspicions;  leading  the  soul  captive  with  a  breath 
of  thine,  as  'twere  a  breeze  from  the  gardens  of  bliss.' 

Bhanavar  changed  her  manner  a  little,  lisping,  'And 
why  that  starting  from  the  tomb  of  a  dead  harmless  youth? 
And  that  abuse  of  me  ? ' 

He  peered  at  her  inquiringly,  echoing  'Why?' 

And  she  repeated,  as  a  child  might  repeat  it,  'Why 
that?' 

Then  the  Vizier  smote  his  forehead  in  the  madness  of 
utter  perplexity,  changing  his  eye  from  Bhanavar  to  the 
tomb  of  Almeryl,  doubting  her  truth,  yet  dreading  to 
disbelieve  it.  So  she  saw  him  fast  enmeshed  in  her  subt- 
leties, and  clapped  her  hands  crying,  'Come  again  with 
me  to  the  tomb,  and  note  if  there  be  aught  I  am  to  blame 
in,  0  Aswarak,  and  plight  thyself  to  me  beside  it.' 

He  did  nothing  save  to  widen  his  eye  at  her  somewhat; 
and  she  said,  'The  two  are  yonside  the  tomb,  and  they 
hear  us  not,  and  see  us  not  by  this  light  of  the  Jewel;  so 
come  up  to  it  boldly  with  me;  free  thy  mind  of  its  doubt, 
and  for  a  reconcilement  kiss  me  on  the  way.' 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  87 

Aswarak  moved  not  forward;  but  as  Bhanavar  laid  the 
Jewel  in  her  bosom  he  tore  the  veil  from  her  darkened 
head,  and  caught  her  to  him  and  kissed  her.  Then  Bhana- 
var laughed  and  shouted,  'How  is  it  with  thee.  Vizier 
Aswarak  ? ' 

He  was  tottering,  and  muttered,  '  'Tis  a  death-chill  hath 
struck  me  even  to  my  marrow.' 

So  she  drew  the  Jewel  forth  once  more,  and  rubbed  it 
ablaze,  and  the  noise  of  the  Serpents  neared;  and  they 
streamed  into  the  vault  and  under  it  in  fiery  jets,  sur- 
rounding Bhanavar,  and  whizzing  about  her  till  in  their 
velocity  they  were  indivisible;  and  she  stood  as  a  foun- 
tain of  fire  clothed  in  flashes  of  the  underworld,  the  new 
loveliness  of  her  face  growing  vivid  violet  like  an  incessant 
lightning  above  them.  Then  stretched  she  her  two  hands, 
and  sang  to  the  Serpents : — 

Hither,  hither,  to  the  feast! 
Hither  to  the  sacrifice! 
Virtue  for  my  sake  hath  ceased: 
Now  to  make  an  end  of  Vice! 

Twisted-tail  and  treble-tongue, 
Swelling  length  and  greedy  maw! 
I  have  had  a  horrid  wrong; 
Retribution  is  the  law! 

Ye  that  suck'd  my  youthful  lord. 
Now  shall  make  another  meal: 
Seize  the  black  Vizier  abhorr'd; 
Seize  him!   seize  him  throat  and  heel! 

Set  your  serpent  wits  to  find 
Tortures  of  a  new  device: 
Have  him!   have  him  heart  and  mind! 
Hither  to  the  sacrifice' 


88  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Then  she  wliirletl  with  them  round  and  round  as  a  tem- 
pest whirls;  and  when  she  had  wound  them  to  a  fury,  lo, 
she  burst  from  the  hissing  circle  and  dragged  Ukleet  from 
the  vault  into  the  passage,  and  blocked  the  entrance  to 
the  vault.    80  was  Queen  Bhanavar  avenged. 

Now,  she  said  to  Ukleet,  '  Ransom  presently  the  broker, 
— him  they  will  not  harm,'  and  hastened  to  the  King  that 
he  might  see  her  in  her  beauty.  The  Iving  reclined  on 
cushions  in  the  harem  with  a  fair  slave-girl,  newly  from 
the  mountains,  toying  with  the  pearls  in  her  locks.  Then 
thought  ]3hanavar,  'Let  him  not  slight  me!'  So  she  drew 
a  rose-coloured  veil  over  her  face  and  sat  beside  Mashalleed. 
The  King  continued  his  fondling  with  the  girl,  saying  to 
her,  'Was  there  no  destiny  foretold  of  thy  coming  to  the 
palace  of  the  King  to  rule  it,  0  Nashta,  starbeam  in  the 
waters!  and  hadst  thou  no  dream  of  it?' 

Bhanavar  struck  the  King's  arm,  but  he  noticed  her 
not,  and  Nashta  laughed.  Then  Bhanavar  controlled  her 
trembling  and  said,  'A  word,  O  I^ng!  and  vouchsafe  me 
a  hearing.' 

The  King  replied  languidly,  still  looking  on  Nashta, 
"Tis  a  command  that  the  voice  of  none  that  are  crabbed 
and  hideous  be  heard  in  the  harem,  and  I  find  comfort  in 
it,  O  Nashta!  but  speak  thou,  my  fountain  of  sweet-drop- 
ping lute-notes!' 

Bhanavar  caught  the  King's  hand  and  said,  'I  have  to 
speak  with  thee;  'tis  the  Queen.  Chase  from  us  this  little 
wax  pup{)et  a  space.' 

The  King  disengaged  his  hand  and  leaned  it  over  to 
Nashta,  who  began  playing  with  it,  and  fittin;^  on  it  a 
ring,  giggling.  Then,  as  he  answered  nothing,  Bhanavar 
came  nearer  and  slajiped  him  on  the  cheek.  Mashalleed 
started  to  his  feet,  and  his  hand  grasped  his  girdle;  but 
that  wrathfulness  was  stayed  when  he  beheld  the  veil  slide 
from  her  visage.    So  he  cried,  'My  Queen!  my  soul!' 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  89 

She  pointed  to  Nashta,  and  the  King  chid  the  girl,  and 
sent  her  forth  lean  with  his  shifted  displeasure,  as  a  kitten 
slinks  wet  from  a  fish-pond  where  it  had  thought  to  catch 
a  great  fish.  Then  Bhanavar  exclaimed,  'There  was  a 
change  in  thy  manner  to  me  before  that  creature.' 

He  sought  to  dissimulate  with  her,  but  at  last  he  con- 
fessed, 'I  was  truly  this  morning  the  victim  of  a  sorcery.' 

Thereupon  she  cried,  'And  thou  wert  angered  to  find 
me  not  by  thee  on  the  couch,  but  one  in  my  place,  a  hag 
of  ugliness.  Hear  then  the  case,  O  Mashalleed!  Surely 
that  old  crone  had  a  dream,  and  it  was  that  if  she  slept 
one  night  by  the  King  she  would  arise  fresh  in  health 
from  her  ills,  and  with  powers  lasting  a  year  to  heal  others 
of  all  maladies  with  a  touch.  So  she  came  to  me,  petition- 
ing me  to  bring  this  about,  O  my  lord  the  King,  did  I 
well  in  being  privy  to  her  desire  ? ' 

The  King  could  not  doubt  this  story  of  Bhanavar,  seeing 
her  constant  loveliness,  and  the  arch  of  her  flashing  brow, 
and  the  oval  of  her  cheek  and  chin  smooth  as  milk.  So 
he  said,  '0  my  Queen!  I  had  thought  to  go,  as  I  must, 
gladly;  but  how  shall  I  go,  knowing  thy  truth,  thy  beauty 
unchanged;  thee  faithful,  a  follower  of  the  injunctions 
of  the  Prophet  in  charitable  deeds  ? ' 

Cried  she,  'And  whither  goeth  my  lord,  and  on  what 
errand  ? ' 

He  answered,  'The  people  of  a  province  southward  have 
raised  the  standard  of  revolt  and  mocked  my  authority; 
they  have  been  joined  by  certain  of  the  Arab  chiefs  sub- 
ject to  my  dominion,  and  have  defeated  my  armies.  'Tis  to 
subdue  them  I  go;  yea,  to  crush  them.  Yet,  wullahy!  I 
know  not.  Care  I  if  kingdoms  fall  away,  and  nations,  so 
that  I  have  thee  ?  Nay,  let  all  pass,  so  that  thou  remain  by 
me.' 

Bhanavar  paced  from  him  to  a  mirror,  and  frowned 
at  the  reflection  of  her  fairness,  thinking,  'Such  had  he 


90  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

spoken  to  the  girl  Nashta,  or  another,  this  King!'  And 
she  thought,  '  I  have  been  beloved  by  the  noblest  three  on 
earth;  I  will  ask  no  more  of  love;  vengeance  I  have  had. 
'Tis  time  that  I  demand  of  my  beauty  nothing  save  power, 
and  I  will  make  this  King  my  stepping-stone  to  power, 
rejoicing  my  soul  with  the  shock  of  armies.' 

Now,  she  persuaded  Mashalleed  to  take  her  with  him  on 
his  expedition  against  the  Arabs;  and  they  set  forth,  head- 
ing a  great  assemblage  of  warriors,  southward  to  the  land 
bordering  the  Desert.  The  ICing  credited  the  suggestions 
of  Bhanavar,  that  Aswarak  had  disappeared  to  join  the 
rebels,  and  pressed  forward  in  his  eagerness  to  inflict 
a  chastisement  signal  in  swiftness  upon  them  and  that 
traitor;  so  eagerly  Mashalleed  journeyed  to  his  army  in 
advance,  that  the  main  body,  with  Bhanavar,  was  left  by 
him  long  behind.  She  had  encouraged  him,  saying,  '  I  shall 
love  thee  much  if  thou  art  speedy  in  winning  success.'  The 
Queen  was  housed  on  an  elephant,  harnessed  with  gold, 
and  wdth  silken  purple  trappings;  from  the  rose-hued  cur- 
tains of  her  palanquin  she  looked  on  a  mighty  march  of 
warriors,  filling  the  extent  of  the  plains;  all  day  she  fed 
her  sight  on  them.  Surely  the  story  of  her  beauty  became 
noised  among  the  guards  of  her  person  that  rode  and  ran 
beneath  the  royal  elephant,  till  the  soldiers  of  Mashalleed 
spake  but  of  the  beauty  of  the  Queen,  and  Bhanavar  was  as 
a  moon  shining  over  that  sea  of  men. 

Now,  they  had  passed  the  cultivated  fields,  and  were  halt- 
ing by  the  ford  of  a  river  bordering  the  Desert,  when  lo!  a 
warrior  on  the  yonside,  riding  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  and  his 
shout  was,  'The  King  Mashalleed  is  defeated,  and  flying.* 
Then  the  Captains  of  the  host  witnessed  to  the  greatness 
of  Allah,  and  were  troubled  with  a  dread,  fearing  to  ad- 
vance; but  Bhanavar  commanded  a  horse  to  be  saddled 
for  her,  and  mounted  it,  and  plunged  through  the  ford  sin- 
gly; so  they  followed  her,  and  all  day  she  rode  forward 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  91 

on  horseback,  touching  neither  food  nor  drink.  By  night 
she  was  a  league  beyond  the  foremost  of  them,  and  fell 
upon  the  King  encamped  in  the  Desert,  with  the  loose  rem- 
nant of  his  forces.  Mashalleed,  when  he  had  looked  on  her, 
forgot  his  affliction,  and  stood  up  to  embrace  her,  but 
Bhanavar  spurned  him,  cr}dng,  'A  time  for  this  in  the  time 
of  disgrace  ? '    Then  she  said,  '  How  came  it  ? ' 

He  answered,  'There  was  a  Chief  among  the  enemy,  an 
Arab,  before  the  terror  of  whom  my  people  fled.' 

Cried  she,  'Conquer  him  on  the  morrow,  and  till  then 
I  eat  not,  drink  not,  sleep  not.' 

On  the  morrow  Mashalleed  again  encountered  the  rebels, 
and  Bhanavar,  seated  on  her  elephant,  from  a  sand-hillock 
under  a  palm,  beheld  the  prowess  of  the  Arab  Chief  and 
the  tempest  of  battle  that  he  was.  She  thought,  'I  have 
seen  but  one  mighty  in  combat  like  that  one, — Ruark,  the 
Chief  of  the  Beni-Asser.'  Thereupon  she  coursed  toward 
the  King,  even  where  the  arrows  gloomed  like  locusts, 
thick  and  dark  in  the  air  aloof,  and  said,  'The  victory  is 
with  yonder  Chief!  Hurl  on  him  three  of  thy  sons  of  valour.' 

The  three  were  selected,  and  made  onslaught  on  this 
Chief,  and  perished  under  his  arm. 

Bhanavar  saw  them  fall,  and  exclaimed,  'Another 
attack  on  him,  and  with  thrice  three!' 

Her  will  was  the  mandate  of  Mashalleed,  and  these 
likewise  were  ordered  forth,  and  closed  on  the  Chief,  but 
he  darted  from  their  toils  and  wheeled  about  them,  spear- 
ing them  one  by  one  till  the  nine  were  in  the  dust.  Bhana- 
var compressed  her  dry  lips  and  muttered  to  the  Eong, 
'Head  thou  a  body  against  him.' 

Mashalleed  gathered  round  his  standard  the  chosen  of 
his  warriors,  and  smoothed  his  beard,  and  headed  them. 
Then  the  Chief  struck  his  lance  behind  him,  and  stretched 
rapidly  a  half-circle  across  the  sand,  and  halted  on  a 
knoll.    When  they  neared  him  he  retreated  in  a  further 


92  THE  SHAMNG   OF  SHAGPAT 

half-eirclo,  aiul  continued  tliis  wise,  wii-sting  the  fury  of 
Maslialleed,  till  he  stood  among  his  followers.  There,  as 
the  King  hesitated  and  prepared  to  retreat,  he  and  the 
others  of  the  tribe  levelled  their  lances  and  hung  upon  his 
rear,  fretting  them,  slaughtering  captains  of  the  troop. 
When  Mashalleed  turned  to  face  his  pursuer,  the  Chief 
was  alone,  immovable  on  his  mare,  fronting  the  ranks. 
Then  Bhanavar  taunted  the  King,  and  he  essayed  the 
capture  of  that  Chief  a  second  time  and  a  third,  and  it 
was  each  time  as  the  first.  Bhanavar  looked  about  her 
with  rapid  eyes,  murmuring,  'Oh,  what  a  Chief  is  he! 
Oh  that  a  cloud  would  fall,  a  smoke  arise,  to  blind  these 
hosts,  that  I  might  sling  my  serpents  on  him  unseen,  for 
I  will  not  be  vanquished,  though  it  be  by  Ruark!'  So 
she  drew  to  the  King,  and  the  altercation  between  them 
was  fierce  in  the  fury  of  the  battle,  he  sajdng,  "Tis  a 
feint  of  the  Chief,  this  challenge;  and  I  must  succour  the 
left  of  my  army  by  the  well,  that  he  is  overmatching  with 
numbers';  and  she,  'If  thou  head  them  not,  then  will  I, 
and  thou  shalt  behold  a  woman  do  what  thou  durst  not, 
and  lose  her  love  and  win  her  scorn.'  While  they  spake 
the  Arabs  they  looked  on  seemed  to  flutter  and  waver, 
and  the  Chief  was  backing  to  them,  calling  to  them  as 
'twere  words  of  shame  to  rally  them.  Seeing  this,  Mashal- 
leed charged  against  the  Chief  once  more,  and  lo!  the  Arabs 
opened  to  receive  him,  closing  on  his  band  of  warriors  like 
waters  whitened  by  the  storm  on  a  fleet  of  swift-scudding 
vessels,  and  there  was  a  dust  and  a  tumult  visible,  such  as 
is  seen  in  the  darkness  when  a  vessel  struck  by  the  lightning- 
bolt  is  sinking — flashes  of  steel,  lifting  of  hands,  rolling 
of  horsemen  and  horses.  Then  Bhanavar  groaned  aloud, 
'They  are  lost!  Shame  to  us!  only  one  hope  is  left — that 
'tis  Ruark,  this  Chief!'  Now,  the  view  of  the  plain  cleared, 
and  with  it  she  behold  the  army  of  Mashalleed  broken,  the 
King  borne  down  by  a  dust  of  Arabs;  so  she  unveiled  her 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  93 

face  and  rode  on  the  host  with  the  horsemen  that  guarded 
her,  glorious  with  a  crown  of  gold  and  the  glowing  Jewel  on 
her  brow.  When  she  was  a  javelin's  flight  from  them  the 
Arabs  shouted  and  paused  in  terror,  for  the  light  of  her  head 
was  as  the  sun  setting  between  clouds  of  thunder;  but 
that  Chief  dashed  forward  like  a  flame  beaten  level  by 
the  wind,  crying,  'Bhanavar;  Bhanavar!'  and  she  knew 
the  features  of  Ruark;  so  she  said,  'Even  I!'  And  he  cried 
again,  'Bhanavar!  Bhanavar!'  and  was  as  one  stricken 
by  a  shaft.  Then  Bhanavar  threw  on  him  certain  of  the 
horsemen  with  her,  and  he  suffered  them  without  a  sign  to 
surround  him  and  grasp  his  mare  by  the  bridle-rein,  and 
bring  him,  disarmed,  before  the  Queen.  At  sight  of  Ruark 
a  captive  the  Arabs  fell  into  confusion,  and  lost  heart,  and 
were  speedily  chased  and  scattered  from  the  scene  like  a 
loose  spray  before  the  wind;  but  Mashalleed  the  King 
rejoiced  mightily  and  praised  Bhanavar,  and  the  whole 
army  of  the  King  praised  her,  magnifying  her. 

Now,  wdth  Ruark  she  interchanged  no  syllable,  and 
said  not  farewell  to  him  when  she  departed  with  Mashal- 
leed, to  encounter  other  tribes;  and  the  Chief  was  bound 
and  conducted  a  prisoner  to  the  city  of  the  inland  sea,  and 
cast  into  prison,  in  expectation  of  Death  the  releaser,  and 
continued  there  wellnigh  a  year,  eating  the  bitter  bread 
of  captivity.  In  the  evening  of  every  seventh  day  there 
came  to  him  a  little  mountain  girl,  that  sat  by  him  and 
leaned  a  lute  to  her  bosom,  singing  of  the  mountain  and 
the  desert,  but  he  turned  his  face  from  her  to  the  wall. 
One  day  she  sang  of  Death  the  releaser,  and  Ruark  thought, 
"Tis  come!  she  warneth  me!  Merciful  is  Allah!'  On  the 
morning  that  followed  Ukleet  entered  the  cell,  and  with 
him  three  slaves,  blacks,  armed  with  scimitars.  So  Ruark 
stood  up  and  bore  witness  to  his  faith,  saying,  '  Swift  with 
the  stroke!'  but  Ukleet  exclaimed,  'Fear  not!  the  end  is 
not  yet.' 


94  THE  yilAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Then  said  he,  'Peace  with  thee!  These  slaves,  0  Chief, 
cxcclhng  in  martial  qualities!  surely  they  're  my  retinue, 
and  the  retniue  of  them  of  my  rank  in  the  palace;  and 
where  I  go  they  go;  for  the  exalted  have  more  shadows 
than  one!  yea,  three  have  they  in  my  case,  even  very  grimly 
black  shadows,  whereon  the  idle  expend  not  laughter,  and 
whoso  joketh  in  their  hearing,  'tis,  wullahy!  the  last  joke  of 
that  person.  In  such-wise  are  the  powerful  known  among 
men,  they  that  stand  very  prominent  in  the  beams  of 
prosperity!  Now  this  of  myself;  but  for  thee — of  a  surety 
the  Queen  Bhanavar,  my  mistress,  will  be  here  by  the  time 
of  the  rising  of  the  moon.  In  the  name  of  Allah!'  Saying 
that  he  departed  in  his  greatness,  and  Ruark  watched  for 
her  that  rose  in  his  soul  as  the  moon  in  the  heavens. 

Meanwhile  Bhanavar  had  mused,  "Tis  this  day,  the 
day  when  the  Serpents  desire  their  due,  and  the  King 
Mashalleed  they  shall  have;  for  what  is  life  to  him  but  a 
treachery  and  a  dalliance,  and  what  is  my  hold  on  him 
but  this  Jewel  of  the  Serpents  ?  He  has  had  the  profit 
of  beauty,  and  he  shall  yield  the  penalty:  my  kiss  is  for 
him,  my  serpent-kiss.  And  I  will  release  Ruark,  and 
espouse  him,  and  w^ar  with  kings,  sultans,  emperors,  in- 
fidels, subduing  them  till  they  worship  me.' 

She  flashed  her  figure  in  the  glass,  and  was  lovely  there- 
in as  one  in  the  light  of  Paradise;  but  ere  she  reached  the 
King  Mashalleed,  lo!  the  hour  of  the  Serpents  had  struck, 
and  her  beauty  melted  from  her  as  snow  melts  from  off  the 
rock;  and  she  was  suddenly  haggard  in  utter  uncomelincss, 
and  knew  it  not,  but  marched,  smiling  a  grand  smile,  on 
to  the  King.  Now  as  Mashalleed  lifted  his  eyes  to  her  he 
started  amazed,  crying,  'The  hag  again!'  and  she  said, 
'What  of  the  hag,  0  my  lord  the  King?'  Thereat  he  was 
yet  more  amazed,  and  exclaimed,  'The  hag  of  ugliness  with 
the  voice  of  Bhanavar!  Has  then  the  Queen  lent  that 
loathsomeness  her  voice  also  ? ' 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  95 

Bhanavar  chilled  a  moment,  and  looked  on  the  faces  of 
the  women  present,  and  they  were  staring  at  her,  the 
younger  ones  tittering,  and  among  them  Nashta,  whom 
she  hated.  So  she  cried,  'Away  with  ye!'  But  the  King 
commanded  them,  'Stay!'  Then  the  Queen  leaned  to 
him,  saying,  'I  will  speak  with  my  lord  alone';  whereat 
he  shrank  from  her,  and  spat.  Ice  and  flame  shivered 
through  the  blood  of  Bhanavar,  yet  such  was  her  eager- 
ness to  give  the  kiss  to  Mashalleed,  that  she  leaned  to  him, 
still  wooing  him  to  her  with  smiles.  Then  the  King  seized 
her  violently,  and  flung  her  over  the  marble  floor  to  the 
very  basin  of  the  fountain,  and  the  crown  that  was  on  her 
brow  fell  and  rolled  to  the  feet  of  Nashta.  The  girl  lifted 
it,  laughing,  and  was  in  the  act  of  fitting  it  to  her  fair  head 
amid  the  chuckles  of  her  companions,  when  a  slap  from  the 
hand  of  Bhanavar  spun  her  twice  round,  and  she  dropped 
to  the  marble  insensible.  The  King  bellowed  in  wrath,  and 
ran  to  Nashta,  crjdng  to  the  Queen,  '  Surrender  that  crown 
to  her,  foul  hag!'  But  Bhanavar  had  bent  over  the  basin 
of  the  fountain,  and  beheld  the  image  of  her  change  therein, 
and  was  hurrying  from  the  hall  and  down  the  corridors  of 
the  palace  to  the  private  chamber.  So  he  made  bare  the 
steel  by  his  side,  and  followed  her  with  a  number  of  the 
harem  guard,  menacing  her,  and  commanding  her  to  sur- 
render the  crown  with  the  Jewel.  Ere  she  could  lay  hand 
on  a  veil,  he  was  beside  her,  and  she  was  encompassed.  In 
that  extremity  Bhanavar  plucked  the  Jewel  from  her  crown, 
and  rubbed  it,  calling  the  Serpents  to  her.  One  came,  one 
only,  and  that  one  would  not  move  from  her  to  sling  him- 
self about  the  neck  of  Mashafleed,  but  whirled  round  her, 
hissing: 

Every  hour  a  serpent  dies, 
Till  we  have  the  sacrifice: 
Sweeten,  sweeten,  with  thy  kiss, 
Quick!   a  soul  for  Karatis. 


96  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Surely  the  Kin^  bit  his  breath,  marvolHnfi;,  and  his  fury 
bccama  an  awful  fear,  and  he  fell  back  from  her,  molesting 
her  no  further.  Then  she  squeezed  the  serpent  till  his 
body  writhed  in  knots,  and  veiled  herself,  and  sprang  down 
a  secret  passage  to  the  garden,  and  it  was  the  time  of  the 
rising  of  the  moon.  Coolness  and  soothingness  dropped 
on  her  as  a  balm  from  the  great  light,  and  she  gazed  on  it 
murmuring,  as  in  a  memory: 

Shall  I  counsel  the  moon  in  her  ascending? — 
Stiiy  under  that  dark  palm-tree  through  the  night, 

Rest  on  the  mountain  slope, 

By  the  couching  antelope, 
O  thou  enthroned  supremacy  of  light ! 

And  for  ever  the  lustre  thou  art  lending 
Lean  on  the  fair  long  brook  that  leaps  and  leaps, 

Silvery  leaps  and  falls: 

Hang  by  the  mountain-walls. 
Moon!   and  arise  no  more  to  crown  the  steeps, 
For  a  danger  and  dolour  is  thy  wending! 

And  she  panted  and  sighed,  and  wept,  crying,  '^^^l0, 
who  will  kiss  me  or  have  my  kiss  now,  that  I  may  indeed 
be  as  yonder  beam?  Who,  that  I  may  be  avenged  on 
this  King?  And  who  sang  that  song  of  the  ascending  of 
the  moon,  that  comes  to  me  as  a  part  of  me  from  old 
times?'  As  she  gazed  on  the  circled  radiance  swinmiing 
under  a  plume  of  palm  leaves,  she  exclaimed,  'Ruark! 
Ruark  the  Chief  I '  So  she  clasped  her  hands  to  her  bosom, 
and  crouched  under  the  shadows  of  the  garden,  and  fled 
through  the  garden  gates  and  the  streets  of  the  city,  heavily 
veiled,  to  the  prison  where  Ruark  awaited  her  within  the 
walls  and  Ukleet  without.  The  Governor  of  the  prison  had 
been  warned  by  Ukleet  of  her  coming,  and  the  doors  and 
bars  opened  before  her  unchallenged,  till  she  stood  in  the 
cell  of  Ruark;  her  eyes,  that  were  alone  unveiled,  scanned 


^2"^" 


,^y0na!/?za'Z'ce.'iy. 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  97 

the  countenance  of  the  Chief,  the  fevered  lustre-jet  of  his 
looks,  and  by  the  little  moonlight  in  the  cell  she  saw  with  a 
glance  the  straw-heap  and  the  fetters,  and  the  black-bread 
and  water  untasted  on  the  bench — signs  of  his  misery  and 
desire  for  her  coming.  So  she  greeted  him  with  the  word  of 
peace,  and  he  replied  with  the  name  of  the  All-Merciful. 
Then  said  she,  '  0  Ruark,  of  Ruki-ooth  thy  mother  tell  me 
somewhat.' 

He  answered,  'I  know  nought  of  her  since  that  day. 
Allah  have  her  in  his  keeping!' 

So  she  cried,  'How?    What  say'st  thou,  Ruark?    'tis  a 
riddle.' 

Then  he,  '  The  oath  of  Ruark  is  no  rope  of  sand !    He 
swore  to  see  her  not  till  he  had  set  eyes  on  Bhanavar.' 

She  knelt  by  the  Chief,  saying  in  a  soft  voice,  'Very 
greatly  the  Chief  of  the  Beni-Asser  loved  Bhanavar.' 
And  she  thought,  'Yea!  greatly  and  verily  love  I  him; 
and  he  shall  be  no  \dctim  of  the  Serpents,  for  I  defy  them 
and  give  them  other  prey.'  So  she  said  in  deeper  notes, 
'Ruark!  the  Queen  is  come  hither  to  release  thee.  0  my 
Chief!  O  thou  soul  of  wrath!  Ruark,  my  fire-eye!  my 
eagle  of  the  desert !  where  is  one  on  earth  beloved  as  thou 
art  by  Bhanavar?'  The  dark  light  in  his  eyes  kindled  as 
light  in  the  eyes  of  a  Hon,  and  she  contmued,  'Ruark, 
what  a  yoke  is  hers  who  weareth  this  crown!  He  that  is 
my  lord,  how  am  I  mated  to  him  save  in  loathing?  O 
my  Chief,  my  lion!  hadst  thou  no  dream  of  Bhanavar, 
that  she  would  come  hither  to  unbind  thee  and  lift  thee 
beside  her,  and  hve  with  thee  in  love  and  veilless  loveliness, 
— thine?  Yea!  and  in  power  over  lands  and  nations  and 
armies,  lording  the  infidel,  taming  them  to  submission,  ex- 
ulting in  defiance  and  assaults  and  victories  and  mag- 
nanimities— thou  and  she?'  Then  while  his  breast  heaved 
like  a  broad  wave,  the  Queen  started  to  her  feet,  crying, 
'Lo,  she  is  here!  and  this  she  offereth  thee,  Ruark!' 


98  THE  ►SHAVING   OF  SHAGPAT 

A  shrill  cry  parted  from  hor  lips,  and  to  the  clapping  of  her 
hands  slaves  entered  the  cell  with  lamps,  and  instruments 
to  strike  ofT  the  fetters  from  the  Chief;  and  they  released 
him,  and  Iluark  leaned  on  their  shoulders  to  bear  the  weight 
of  a  limb,  so  was  he  weakened  by  captivity;  but  Bhanavar 
thrust  them  from  the  Chief,  and  took  the  pressure  of  his 
elbow  on  her  own  shoulder,  and  walked  with  him  thus  to 
the  door  of  the  cell,  he  sighing  as  one  in  a  dream  that  drcam- 
cth  the  bliss  of  bliss.  Now  they  had  gone  three  paces  on- 
ward, and  were  in  the  light  of  many  lamps,  when  behold! 
the  veil  of  Bhanavar  caught  in  the  sleeve  of  Ruark  as  he 
liftetl  it,  and  her  visage  became  bare.  She  shrieked,  and 
caught  up  her  two  hands  to  her  brow,  but  the  slaves  had  a 
glimpse  of  her,  and  said  among  themselves,  'This  is  not  the 
Queen.'  And  they  murmured,  "Tis  an  impostor!  one  in 
league  with  the  Chief. '  Bhanavar  heard  them  say,  '  Arrest 
her  with  him  at  the  Governor's  gate,'  and  summoned  her 
soul,  thinking,  '  He  loveth  me,  the  Chief !  he  will  look  into 
my  eyes  and  mark  not  the  change.  What  need  I  then  to 
dread  his  scorn  when  I  ask  of  him  the  kiss:  now  must 
it  be  given,  or  w^e  are  lost,  both  of  us!'  and  she  raised  her 
head  on  Ruark,  and  said  to  him, '  0  my  Chief,  ere  we  leave 
these  walls  and  join  our  fates,  wilt  thou  plight  thyself  to 
me  with  a  kiss  ? ' 

Ruark  leapt  to  her  like  the  bounding  leopard,  and  gave 
her  the  kiss,  as  were  it  his  whole  soul  he  gave.  Then  in 
a  moment  Bhanavar  felt  the  blush  of  beauty  burn  over  her, 
and  drcnv  the  veil  down  on  her  face,  and  suffered  the  slaves 
to  arrest  her  with  Ruark,  and  bring  her  before  the  Governor, 
and  from  the  Governor  to  the  King  in  his  council-chamber, 
with  the  Chief  of  the  Beni-Asser. 

Now,  the  King  Mashalleed  called  to  her,  'Thou  traitress! 
thou  sorceress!    thou  serpent!' 

And  she  answered  under  the  veil,  'What,  O  my  lord 
the  King!  and  wherefore  these  e\al  names  of  me?' 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  99 

Cried  he,  'Thou  thing  of  guile!  and  thou  hast  pleaded 
with  me  for  the  life  of  the  Chief  thus  long  to  visit  him  in 
secret!  Life  of  my  head!  but  Mashalleed  is  not  one  to  be 
fooled." 

So  she  said,  "Tis  Bhanavar!  hast  thou  forgotten  her?' 

Then  he  waxed  white  with  rage,  exclaiming,  'Yea,  'tis 
she!  a  serpent  in  the  slough!  and  Ukleet  in  the  torture 
hath  told  of  thee  what  is  known  to  him.     Unveil!  unveil!' 

She  threw  the  veil  from  her  figure,  and  smiled,  for  Ma- 
shalleed was  mute,  the  torrent  of  invective  frozen  on  his 
mouth  when  he  beheld  the  miracle  of  beauty  that  she  was, 
the  splendid  jewel  of  throbbing  loveliness.  So  to  scourge 
him  with  the  bitter  lash  of  jealousy,  Bhanavar  turned  her 
eyes  on  Ruark,  and  said  sweetly,  'Yet  shalt  thou  live  to 
taste  again  the  bliss  of  the  Desert.  Pleasant  was  our  time 
in  it,  O  my  Chief ! '  The  King  glared  and  choked,  and  she 
said  again,  'Nor  he  conquered  thee,  but  I;  and  I  that  con- 
quered thee,  little  will  it  be  for  me  to  conquer  him:  his 
threats  are  the  winds  of  idleness.' 

Surely  the  world  darkened  before  the  eyes  of  Mashal- 
leed, and  he  arose  and  called  to  his  guard  hoarsely,  '  Have 
off  their  heads!'  They  hesitated,  dreading  the  Queen,  and 
he  roared,  'Slay  them!' 

Bhanavar  beheld  the  winking  of  the  steel,  but  ere  the 
scimitars  descended,  she  seized  Ruark,  and  they  stood  in  a 
whizzing  ring  of  serpents,  the  sound  of  whom  was  as  the 
hum  of  a  thousand  wires  struck  by  storm-winds.  Then 
she  glowed,  towering  over  them  with  the  Chief  clasped  to 
her,  and  crying: 

King  of  vileness!   match  Uiy  slaves 
With  my  creatures  of  the  caves. 

And  she  sang  to  the  Serpents: 

Seize  upon  him!   sting  him  thro'  ! 
Thrice  this  day  shall  pay  your  due. 


100  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

But  they,  instead  of  obeying  her  injunction,  made  narrower 
their  circle  round  Bhanavar  and  the  Chief.  She  yellowed, 
and  took  hold  of  the  nearest  Serpent  horribly,  crying: 

Dare  against  me  to  rebel, 
Ye,  the  bitter  brood  of  hell  ? 

And  the  Serpent  gasped  in  reply: 

One  the  kiss  to  us  secures: 
Give  us  ours,  and  we  are  yours. 

Thereupon  another  of  the  Serpents  swung  on  the  feet 
of  Ruark,  winding  his  length  upward  round  the  body  of 
the  Chief;  so  she  tugged  at  that  one,  tearing  it  from  him 
violently,  and  crying: 

Him  ye  shall  not  have,  I  swear! 
Seize  the  King  that  's  crouching  there. 

And  that  Serpent  hissed: 

This  is  he  the  kiss  ensures: 
Give  us  ours,  and  we  are  yours. 

Another  and  another  Serpent  she  flung  from  the  Chief, 
and  they  began  to  swarm  venomously,  answering  her  no 
more.  Then  Ruark  bore  witness  to  his  faith,  and  folded 
his  arms  with  the  grave  smile  she  had  known  in  the  desert ; 
and  Bhanavar  struggled  and  tussled  with  the  Serpents  in 
fierceness,  strangling  and  tossing  them  to  right  and  left. 
'Great  is  Allah!'  cried  all  present,  and  the  ffing  trembled, 
for  never  was  sight  like  that  seen,  the  hall  flashing  with 
the  Serpents,  and  a  woman-serpent,  their  Queen,  raging  to 
save  one  from  their  fury,  shrieking  at  intervals: 

Never,  never  shall  ye  fold, 
Save  with  nie  the  man  I  hold. 


THE  STORY  OF  BHANAVAR  101 

But  now  the  hiss  and  scream  of  the  Serpents  and  the 
noise  of  their  circling  was  quickened  to  a  slurred  savage 
sound  and  they  closed  on  Ruark,  and  she  felt  him  stifling 
and  that  they  were  relentless.  So  in  the  height  of  the  tem- 
pest Bhanavar  seized  the  Jewel  in  the  gold  circlet  on  her 
brow  and  cast  it  from  her.  Lo!  the  Serpents  instantly 
abated  their  frenzy,  and  flew  all  of  them  to  pluck  the 
Jewel,  chasing  the  one  that  had  it  in  his  fangs  through  the 
casement,  and  the  hall  breathed  empty  of  them.  Then  in 
the  silence  that  was,  Bhanavar  veiled  her  face  and  said  to 
the  Chief,  'Pass  from  the  hall  while  they  yet  dread  me. 
No  longer  am  I  Queen  of  SerjDents.' 

But  he  replied,  'Nay!  said  I  not  my  soul  is  thine?' 

She  cried  to  him,  '  Seest  thou  not  the  change  in  me  ?  I 
was  bound  to  those  Serpents  for  my  beauty,  and  'tis  gone! 
Now  am  I  powerless,  hateful  to  look  on,  0  Ruark  my 
Chief!' 

He  remained  still,  saying,  'What  thou  hast  been  thou  art.' 

She  exclaimed,  '  0  true  soul,  the  light  is  hateful  to  me 
as  I  to  the  light;  but  I  will  yet  save  thee  to  comfort  Ruk- 
rooth,  thy  mother. ' 

So  she  drew  him  with  her  swiftly  from  the  hall  of  the 
King  ere  the  King  had  recovered  his  voice  of  command; 
but  now  the  wrath  of  the  All-powerful  was  upon  her  and 
him !  Surely  within  an  hour  from  the  flight  of  the  Serpents, 
the  slaves  and  soldiers  of  Mashalleed  laid  at  his  feet  two 
heads  that  were  the  heads  of  Ruark  and  Bhanavar;  and 
they  said,  '0  great  King,  we  tracked  them  to  her  cham- 
ber and  through  to  a  passage  and  a  vault  hung  with  black, 
wherein  were  two  corpses,  one  in  a  tomb  and  one  unburied, 
and  we  slew  them  there,  clasping  each  other,  0  King  of  the 
age!' 

Mashalleed  gazed  upon  the  head  of  Bhanavar  and 
sighed,  for  death  had  made  the  head  again  fair  with  a 
wondrous  beauty,  a  loveliness  never  before  seen  on  earth. 


102  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE  BETROTHAL 

Now,  when  Shibli  Bagarag  had  ceased  speaking,  the 
Vizier  smiled  gravely,  and  shook  his  beard  with  satis- 
faction, and  said  to  the  Eclipser  of  Reason,  '  What  opinest 
thou  of  this  nephew  of  the  barber,  0  Noorna  bin  Noorka  ? ' 

She  answered,  "0  Feshnavat,  my  father,  truly  I  am 
content  with  the  bargain  of  my  betrothal.  He,  WuUahy, 
is  a  fair  youth  of  flowing  speech.'  Then  she  said,  'Ask 
thou  him  what  he  opineth  of  me,  his  betrothed?" 

So  the  Vizier  put  that  interrogation  to  Shibli  Bagarag, 
and  the  youth  was  in  perplexity;  thinking,  'Is  it  possible 
to  be  joyful  in  the  embrace  of  one  that  hath  brought 
thwackings  upon  us,  serious  blows?'  Thinking,  'Yet 
hath  she,  w^hen  the  mood  cometh,  kindly  looks;  and  I 
marked  her  eye  dwelling  on  me  admiringly!'  And  he 
thought,  '  Mayhap  she  that  groweth  younger  and  counteth 
nature  backwards,  hath  a  history  that  would  affect  me ;  or, 
it  may  be,  my  kisses — wah!  1  like  not  to  give  them,  and 
it  is  said, 

"Love  is  wither'd  by  the  withered  lip"; 

and  that, 

"On  bones  become  too  prominent  he  '11  trip." 

Yet  put  the  case,  that  my  kisses — I  shower  them  not,  Allah 
the  All-seeing  is  rny  witness!  and  they  be  given  daintily 


THE  BETROTHAL  103 

as  'twere  to  the  leaf  of  a  nettle,  or  over-hot  pilau.  Yet 
haply  kisses  repeated  might  restore  her  to  a  bloom,  and  it 
is  certain  youth  is  somehow  stolen  from  her,  if  the  Vizier 
Feshnavat  went  before  her,  and  his  blood  be  her  blood; 
and  he  is  powerful,  she  wise.  I  '11  decide  to  act  the  part  of  a 
rejoicer,  and  express  of  her  opinions  honeyed  to  the  soul 
of  that  sex.' 

Now,  while  he  was  thus  debating  he  hung  his  head, 
and  the  Vizier  awaited  his  response,  knitting  his  brows 
angrily  at  the  delay,  and  at  the  last  he  cried,  'What! 
no  answer  ?  how  's  this  ?  Shall  thy  like  dare  hold  debate 
when  questioned  of  my  like  ?  And  is  my  daughter  Noorna 
bin  Noorka,  thinkest  thou,  a  slave-girl  in  the  market, — 
thou  haggling  at  her  price,  0  thou  nephew  of  the  barber?' 

So  ShibU  Bagarag  exclaimed,  '0  exalted  one,  bestower 
of  the  bride!  surely  I  debated  with  myself  but  for  appro- 
priate terms;  and  I  delayed  to  select  the  metre  of  the 
verse  fitting  my  thoughts  of  her,  and  my  wondrous  good 
fortune,  and  the  honour  done  me.' 

Then  the  Vizier,  'Let  us  hear:    we  listen.' 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  was  advised  to  deal  with  illustra- 
tions in  his  dilemma,  by-ways  of  expression,  and  spake 
in  extemporaneous  verse,  and  with  a  full  voice: 

The  pupils  of  the  Sage  for  living  Beauty  sought; 

And  one  a  Vision  clasped,  and  one  a  Model  wrought. 

*I  have  it!'  each  exclaimed,  and  rivalry  arose: 

'Paint  me  thy  Maid  of  air!'  'Thy  Grace  of  clay  dis- 
close.' 

'What!  limbs  that  cannot  move!'  'What!  lips  that  melt 
away!" 

'Keep  thou  thy  Maid  of  air!'  'Shroud  up  thy  Grace  of 
clay!' 

'Twas  thus,  contending  hot,  they  went  before  the  Sage, 

And  knelt  at  the  wise  wells  of  cold  ascetic  age. 

'The  fairest  of  the  twain,  O  father,  thou  record': 


104  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

He  answered,  'Fairest  she  who  's  likest  to  her  lord.* 
Said  they,  'What  fairer  thing   matched  with  them  might 

prevail  ?' 
The  Sage  austerely  smiled,  and  said,  *  Yon  monkey's  tail.' 

'Tis  left  for  after-time  his  wisdom  to  declare: 
That's  loveliest  we  best  love,  and  to  ourselves  compare. 
Yet  lovelier  than  all  hands  shape  or  fancies  build, 
The  meanest  thing  of  earth  God  with  his  fire  hath  filled. 

Now,  when  Shibli  Bagarag  ceased,  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
cried,  'Enough,  O  wondrous  turner  of  verse,  thou  that 
art  honest!'  And  she  laughed  loudly,  rustling  like  a  bag 
of  shavings,  and  rolling  in  her  laughter. 

Then  said  she,  *0  my  betrothed,  is  not  the  thing  thou 
wouldst  say  no  other  than — 

"Each  to  his  mind  doth  the  fairest  enfold, 
For  broken  long  since  was  Beauty's  mould"; 

and,  "Thou  that  art  old,  withered,  I  cannot  flatter  thee, 
as  I  can  in  no  way  pay  compliments  to  the  monkey's 
tail  of  high  design;  nevertheless  the  Sage  would  do  thee 
honour"?  So  read  I  thy  illustration,  0  keen  of  wit!  and 
thou  art  forgiven  its  boldness,  my  betrothed, — WuUahy! 
utterly  so.' 

Now,  the  youth  was  abashed  at  her  discernment,  and 
the  kindliness  of  her  mamier  won  him  to  say: 

There  's  many  a  flower  of  sweetness,  there  's  many  a  gem 

of  earth 
Would  thrill  with  bliss  our  being,  could  we  perceive  its 

worth. 
O  beauteous  is  creation,  in  fashion  and  device! 
If  I  have  fail'd  to  think  thee  fair,  'tis  blindness  is  my 

vice. 


THE  BETROTHAL  105 

And  she  answered  him: 

I  've  proved  thy  wit  and  power  of  verse. 
That  is  at  will  diffuse  and  terse: 
Lest  thou  commence  to  lie — be  dumb! 
I  am  content:   the  time  will  come! 

Then  she  said  to  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  '0  my  father, 
there  is  all  in  this  youth,  the  nephew  of  the  barber,  that 's 
desirable  for  the  undertaking;  and  his  feet  will  be  on  a 
level  with  the  task  we  propose  for  him,  he  the  height  of 
man  above  it.  'Tis  clear  that  vanity  will  trip  him,  but 
honesty  is  a  strong  upholder;  and  he  is  one  that  hath  the 
spirit  of  enterprise  and  the  mask  of  dissimulation:  grati- 
tude I  observe  in  him;  and  it  is  as  I  thought  when  I  came 
upon  him  on  the  sand-hill  outside  the  city,  that  his  star  is 
clearly  in  a  web  with  our  star,  he  destined  for  the  Shaving 
of  Shagpat.' 

So  the  Vizier  replied,  'He  hath  had  thwackings,  yet 
is  he  not  deterred  from  making  further  attempt  on  Shag- 
pat.  I  think  well  of  him,  and  I  augur  hopefully.  Wullahy! 
the  Cadi  shall  be  sent  for;  I  can  sleep  in  his  secresy;  and 
he  shall  perform  the  ceremonies  of  betrothal,  even  now 
and  where  we  sit,  and  it  shall  be  for  him  to  write  the  terms 
of  contract:  so  shall  we  bind  the  youth  firmly  to  us,  and 
he  will  be  one  of  us  as  we  are,  devoted  to  the  undertaking 
by  three  bonds — the  bond  of  vengeance,  the  bond  of  ambi- 
tion, and  that  of  love.' 

Now,  so  it  was  that  the  Vizier  despatched  a  summons 
for  the  attendance  of  the  Cadi,  and  he  came  and  per- 
formed between  Shibli  Bagarag  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
ceremonies  of  betrothal,  and  wrote  terms  of  contract; 
and  they  were  witnessed  duly  by  the  legal  number  of 
witnesses,  and  so  worded  that  he  had  no  claim  on  her  as 
wife  till  such  time  as  the  Event  to  which  he  bound  himself 
was  mastered.    Then  the  fees  being  paid,  and  compliments 


lOG  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

interchanged,  the  Vizier  exclaimed,  'Be  ye  happy!  and 
let  the  weak  cling  to  the  strong;  and  be  ye  two  to  one  in 
this  world,  and  no  split  halves  that  betray  division  and 
stick  not  together  when  the  gum  is  heated.'  Then  he 
made  a  sign  to  the  Cadi  and  them  that  had  witnessed  the 
contract  to  follow  him,  leaving  the  betrothed  ones  to  their 
own  company. 

80  when  they  were  alone  Noorna  gazed  on  the  youth 
wistfully,  and  said  in  a  soft  tone,  'Thou  art  dazed  with 
the  adventure,  0  youth!  Surely  there  is  one  kiss  owing 
me:  art  thou  willing?  Am  I  reduced  to  beg  it  of  thee? 
Or  dream'st  thou?' 

He  lifted  his  head  and  replied,  'Even  so.' 

Thereat  he  stood  up  languidly,  and  went  to  her  and 
kissed  her.  And  she  smiled  and  said,  'I  wot  it  will  be 
otherwise,  and  thou  wilt  learn  swiftness  of  limb,  bright- 
ness of  eye,  and  the  longing  for  earthly  beatitude,  when 
next  I  ask  thee,  0  my  betrothed ! ' 

Lo!  while  she  spake,  new  light  seemed  in  her;  and  it 
was  as  if  a  splendid  jewel  were  struggling  to  cast  its  beams 
through  the  sides  of  a  crystal  vase  smeared  with  dust 
and  old  dirt  and  spinnings  of  the  damp  spider.  He  was 
amazed,  and  cried,  '  How  's  this  ?  What  change  is  passing 
in  thee?' 

She  said,  'Joy  in  thy  kiss,  and  that  I  have  'scaped 
Shagpat.' 

Then  he:  'Shagpat?  How?  had  that  wretch  claim 
over  thee  ere  I  came?  ' 

But  she  looked  fearfully  at  the  corners  of  the  room 
and  exclaimed,  'Hush,  my  betrothed!  speak  not  of  him 
in  that  fashion,  'tis  dangerous;  and  my  power  cannot 
keep  off  his  emissaries  at  all  times.'  Then  she  said,  'O 
my  betrothed,  know  me  a  sorceress  cnsorcelled;  not  that 
I  seem,  but  that  I  shall  be!  Wait  thou  for  the  time  and  it 
will  reward  thee.    What!  thou  think'st  to  have  plucked  a 


THE  BETROTHAL  107 

wrinkled  o'erripe  fruit, — a  mouldy  pomegranate  under  the 
branches,  a  sour  tamarind?  'Tis  well!  I  say  nought,  save 
that  time  will  come,  and  be  thou  content.  It  is  truly  as  I 
said,  that  I  have  thee  between  me  and  Shagpat ;  and  that 
honoured  one  of  this  city  thought  fit  in  his  presumption 
to  demand  me  in  marriage  at  the  hands  of  my  father,  know- 
ing me  wise,  and  knowing  the  thing  that  transformed  me 
to  this,  the  abominable  fellow!  Surely  my  father  enter- 
tained not  his  proposal  save  with  scorn;  but  the  King  looked 
favourably  on  it,  and  it  is  even  now  matter  of  reproach 
to  Feshnavat,  my  father,  that  he  withholdeth  me  from 
Shagpat.' 

Quoth  ShibH  Bagarag,  'A  clothier,  0  Noorna,  control 
the  Vizier!  and  demand  of  him  his  daughter  in  marriage! 
and  a  clothier  influence  the  King  against  his  Vizier! — 
'tis,  wullahy!  a  riddle.' 

She  replied,  "Tis  even  so,  eyes  of  mine,  my  betrothed! 
but  thou  know'st  not  Shagpat,  and  that  he  is.  Lo!  the 
King,  and  all  of  this  city  save  we  three,  are  held  in  en- 
chantment by  him,  and  made  foolish  by  one  hair  that 's 
in  his  head.' 

Shibli  Bagarag  started  in  his  seat  like  one  that  shineth 
with  a  discovery,  and  cried,  'The  Identical!' 

Then  she,  sighing,  "Tis  that  indeed!  but  the  Identical 
of  Identicals,  the  chief  and  head  of  them,  and  I,  woe  's 
me!    I,  the  planter  of  it.' 

So  he  said,  '  How  so  ? ' 

But  she  cried,  '  I  '11  tell  thee  not  here,  nor  aught  of 
myself  and  him,  and  the  Genie  held  in  bondage  by  me,  till 
thou  art  proved  by  adventure,  and  we  float  peacefully 
on  the  sea  of  the  Bright  Lily:  there  shalt  thou  see  me  as  I 
am,  and  hear  my  story,  and  marvel  at  it;  for  'tis  wondrous, 
and  a  manifestation  of  the  Power  that  dwelleth  unseen.' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  pondered  awhile  on  the  strange  na- 
ture of  the  things  she  hinted,  and  laughter  seized  him 


108  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

as  he  reflected  on  Shagpat,  and  the  whole  city  enchanted 
by  one  hair  in  his  head;  and  he  exclaimed,  '0  Noorna, 
knoweth  he,  Shagpat,  of  the  might  in  him  ? ' 

She  answered,  'Enough  for  his  vain  soul  that  homage 
is  paid  to  him,  and  he  careth  not  for  the  wherefore!' 

Shibli  Bagarag  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  deep-flowered  car- 
pets of  the  floor,  as  if  reading  there  a  matter  quaintly 
written,  and  smiled,  sajing,  'What  boldness  was  mine 
— the  making  ofTer  to  shear  Shagpat,  the  lion  in  his  lair, 
he  that  holdeth  a  whole  city  in  enchantment!  Wah! 
'twas  an  instance  of  daring!' 

And  Noorna  said,  'Not  only  an  entire  city,  but  other 
cities  affected  by  him,  as  witness  Oolb,  whither  thou  wilt 
go;  and  there  be  governments  and  states,  and  conditions 
of  men  remote,  that  hang  upon  him,  Shagpat.  Tis  even  so; 
I  swell  not  his  size.  When  thou  hast  mastered  the  Event, 
and  sent  him  forth  shivering  from  thy  blade  like  the  shorn 
lamb,  'twill  be  known  how  great  a  thing  has  been  achieved, 
and  a  record  for  the  generations  to  come;  choice  is  that  his- 
torian destined  to  record  it ! ' 

Quoth  he,  looking  eagerly  at  her,  'O  Noorna,  what  is 
it  in  thy  speech  affecteth  me  ?  Surely  it  infuseth  the  vigour 
of  wine,  old  wine;  and  I  shiver  with  desire  to  shave  Shag- 
pat, and  spin  threads  for  the  historian  to  weave  in  order. 
I,  wullahy!  had  but  dry  visions  of  the  greatness  destined 
for  me  till  now,  my  betrothed!  Shall  I  master  an  Event  in 
sha\'ing  him,  and  be  told  of  to  future  ages?  By  Allah  and 
his  Prophet  (praise  be  to  that  name!),  this  is  greatness! 
Say,  Noorna,  hadst  thou  foreknowledge  of  me  and  my 
coming  to  this  city?' 

So  she  said,  'I  was  on  the  roofs  one  night  among  the 
stars  ere  moonrise,  0  my  betrothed,  and  'twas  close  on  the 
rise  of  this  very  month's  moon.  The  star  of  our  enemy, 
Shagpat,  wa»s  large  and  red,  mine  as  it  were  menaced  by  its 
proximity,  nigh  swallowed  in  its  haughty  beams  and  the 


THE  BETROTHAL  109 

steady  overbearings  of  its  effulgence.  Twas  so  as  it  had 
long  been,  when  suddenly,  lo!  a  star  from  the  upper  heaven 
that  shot  down  between  them  wildly,  and  my  star  took 
lustre  from  it;  and  the  star  of  Shagpat  trembled  like  a 
ring  on  a  tightened  rope,  and  waved  and  fhckered,  and 
seemed  to  come  forward  and  to  retire;  and  'twas  presently 
as  a  comet  in  the  sky,  bright, — a  tadpole,  with  large  head 
and  lengthy  tail,  in  the  assembly  of  the  planets.  This  I 
saw:  and  that  the  stranger  star  was  stationed  by  my  star, 
shielding  it,  and  that  it  drew  nearer  to  my  star,  and  entered 
its  circle,  and  that  the  two  stars  seemed  mixing  the  splen- 
dour that  was  theirs.  Now,  that  sight  amazed  me,  and  my 
heart  in  its  beating  quickened  with  the  expectation  of 
things  approaching.  Surely  I  rendered  praise,  and  pressed 
both  hands  on  my  bosom,  and  watched,  and  behold!  the 
comet,  the  illumined  tadpole,  was  becoming  restless  be- 
neath the  joint  rays  of  the  twain  that  were  dominating 
him;  and  he  diminished,  and  lashed  his  tail  uneasily,  half 
madJy,  darting  as  do  captured  beasts  from  the  fetters  that 
constrain  them.  Then  went  there  from  thy  star — for  I 
know  now  'twas  thine — a  momentary  flash  across  the  head 
of  the  tadpole,  and  again  another  and  another,  rapidly, 
pertinaciously.  And  from  thy  star  there  passed  repeated 
flashes  across  the  head  of  the  tadpole,  till  his  brilliance  was 
as  'twere  severed  from  him,  and  he,  like  drossy  silver,  a 
dead  shape  in  the  conspicuous  heavens.  And  he  became 
yellow  as  the  rolling  eyes  of  sick  wretches  in  pain,  and 
shrank  in  his  place  like  pale  parchment  at  the  touch  of 
flame;  dull  was  he  as  an  animal  fascinated  by  fear,  and 
deprived  of  all  power  to  make  head  against  the  foe,  dark- 
ness, that  now  beset  him,  and  usurped  part  of  his  yet 
lively  tail,  and  settled  on  his  head,  and  coated  part  of  his 
body.  So  when  this  tadpole,  that  was  once  terrible  to  me, 
became  turbaned,  shoed,  and  shawled  wdth  darkness,  and 
there  was  Uttle  of  him  remaining  visible,  lo!    a  concluding 


110  THE  SHAVING  OF  SIUGPAT 

flash  shot  from  thy  star,  and  he  fell  heavily  down  the 
sky  and  below  the  hills,  into  the  sea,  that  is  the  Enchanted 
Sea,  whose  Queen  is  Rabesqurat,  Mistress  of  Illusions. 
Now  when  my  soul  recovered  from  amazement  at  the  mar- 
vels seen,  I  arose  and  went  from  the  starry  roofs  to  con- 
sult my  books  of  magic,  and  'twas  revealed  to  me  that  one 
was  wandering  to  a  junction  with  my  destiny,  and  that  by 
his  means  the  great  aim  would  of  a  surety  be  accomplished 
— Shagi)at  Shaved!  So  my  purjDose  was  to  discover  him; 
and  I  made  calculations,  and  summoned  them  that  serve  me 
to  search  for  such  a  youth  as  thou  art;  fairly,  0  my  be- 
trothed, did  I  preconceive  thee.  And  so  it  was  that  I  traced 
a  magic  line  from  the  sand-hills  to  the  city,  and  from  the 
outer  hills  to  the  sand-hills;  and  whoso  approached  by  that 
line  I  knew  was  he  marked  out  as  my  champion,  my  be- 
trothed,— a  youth  destined  for  great  things.  Was  I  right? 
The  egg  hatcheth.  Thou  art  already  proved  by  thwackings, 
seasoned  to  the  undertaking,  and  I  doubt  not  thou  art  he 
that  uill  finish  with  that  tadpole  Shagpat,  and  sit  in  the  high 
seat,  thy  name  an  odour  in  distant  lands,  a  joy  to  the  his- 
torian, the  Compiler  of  Events,  thou  Master  of  the  Event, 
the  greatest  which  time  will  witness  for  ages  to  come.' 

When  she  had  spoken  Shibli  Bagarag  consitlered  her 
words,  and  the  knowledge  that  he  was  selected  by  destiny 
as  Master  of  the  Event  inflated  him ;  and  he  was  a  hawk  in 
eagerness,  a  peacock  in  pride,  an  ostrich  in  fulness  of  chest, 
crying,  'O  Noorna  bin  Noorka!  is  't  really  so?  Truly  it 
must  be,  for  the  readers  of  planets  were  also  busy  with  me 
at  the  time  of  my  birth,  interj)reting  of  me  in  excessive 
agitation;  and  the  thing  they  foretold  is  as  thou  foretellest. 
I  am,  wullahy!  marked:  I  walk  manifest  in  the  eye  of 
Pro\idence.' 

Thereupon  he  exulted,  and  his  mind  strutted  through 
the  future  of  his  days,  and  down  the  ladder  of  all  time, 
exacting    homage    from    men,    his    brethren;     and    'twas 


THE  BETROTHAL  111 

beyond  the  art  of  Nooma  to  fix  him  to  the  present  duties 
of  the  enterprise:  he  was  as  feathered  seed  before  the  breath 
of  vanity. 

Now,  while  the  twain  discoursed,  she  of  the  prepara- 
tions for  shaving  Shagpat,  he  of  his  completion  of  the 
deed,  and  the  honours  due  to  him  as  Master  of  the  Event, 
Feshnavat  the  Vizier  returned  to  them  from  his  entertain- 
ment of  the  Cadi;  and  he  had  bribed  him  to  silence  with  a 
mighty  bribe.    So  he  called  to  them — 

'Ho!  be  ye  ready  to  commence  the  work?  and  have 
ye  advised  together  as  to  the  beginning?  True  is  that 
triplet: 

"  Whatever  enterprize  man  hath, 
For  waking  love  or  curbing  wrath, 
'Tis  the  first  step  that  makes  a  path." 

And  how  have  ye  determined  as  to  that  first  step  ? ' 

Nooma  replied,  '0  my  father!  we  have  not  decided,  and 
there  hath  been  yet  no  dehberation  between  us  as  to  that.' 

Then  he  said,  'All  this  while  have  ye  talked,  and  no 
deliberation  as  to  that!  Lo,  I  have  drawn  the  Cadi  to 
our  plot,  and  bribed  him  with  a  mighty  bribe;  and  I  have 
prepared  possible  disguises  for  this  nephew  of  the  barber; 
and  I  have  had  the  witnesses  of  thy  betrothal  despatched 
to  foreign  parts,  far  kingdoms  in  the  land  of  Roum,  to  pre- 
vent tattling  and  gabbling;  and  ye  that  were  left  alone 
for  debating  as  to  the  great  deed,  ye  have  not  yet  deliberated 
as  to  that !  Is  't  known  to  ye,  O  gabblers,  aught  of  the  pun- 
ishment inflicted  by  Shahpesh,  the  Persian,  on  Khipil,  the 
Builder  ? — a  punishment  that,  by  Allah ! ' 

Shibli  Bagarag  said,  'How  of  that  punishment,  0 
Vizier?' 

And  the  Vizier  narrated  as  followeth. 


112  THE  SIIAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


AND  THIS  IS  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  SHAH- 
PESH,  THE  PERSIAN,  ON  KPIIPIL,  THE 
BUILDER 

They  relate  that  Shahpesh,  the  Persian,  commanded  the 
building  of  a  palace,  and  Khipil  was  his  builder.  The 
work  lingered  from  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  Shahpesh 
even  to  his  fourth.  One  day  Shahpesh  went  to  the  river- 
side where  it  stood,  to  inspect  it.  Khipil  was  sitting  on  a 
marble  slab  among  the  stones  and  blocks;  round  him 
stretched  lazily  the  masons  and  stonecutters  and  slaves  of 
burden;  and  they  with  the  curve  of  humorous  enjoyment 
on  their  lips,  for  he  was  reciting  to  them  adventures,  in- 
terspersed with  anecdotes  and  recitations  and  poetic  in- 
stances, as  was  his  wont.  They  were  like  pleased  flocks 
whom  the  shepherd  hath  led  to  a  pasture  freshened  with 
brooks,  there  to  feed  indolently;  he,  the  shepherd,  in  the 
midst. 

Now,  the  King  said  to  him,  '0  Khipil,  show  me  my  pal- 
ace where  it  standeth,  for  I  desire  to  gratify  my  sight  with 
its  fairness.' 

Khi])il  abased  himself  before  Shahpesh,  and  answered, 
'  'Tis  even  here,  O  King  of  the  age,  where  thou  delightest 
the  earth  with  thy  foot  and  the  ear  of  thy  slave  with  sweet- 
ness. Surely  a  site  of  vantage,  one  that  dominateth  earth, 
air,  and  water,  which  is  the  builder's  first  and  chief  req- 
uisition for  a  noble  palace,  a  palace  to  fill  foreign  kings 
and  sultans  with  the  distraction  of  envy;    and  it  is,  O 


THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  KHIPIL  113 

Sovereign  of  the  time,  a  site,  this  site  I  have  chosen,  to 
occupy  the  tongues  of  travellers  and  awaken  the  flights  of 
poets!' 

Shahpesh  smiled  and  said,  'The  site  is  good!  I  laud 
the  site!  Likewise  I  laud  the  wisdom  of  Ebn  Busrac, 
where  he  exclaims: 

"  Be  sure,  where  Virtue  faileth  to  appear, 
For  her  a  gorgeous  mansion  men  will  rear; 
And  day  and  night  her  praises  will  be  heard, 
Where  never  yet  she  spake  a  single  word.'" 

Then  said  he,  '0  Khipil,  my  builder,  there  was  once 
a  farm-servant  that,  ha\dng  neglected  in  the  seed-time 
to  sow,  took  to  singing  the  richness  of  his  soil  when  it 
was  harvest,  in  proof  of  which  he  displayed  the  abundance 
of  weeds  that  coloured  the  land  everywhere.  Discover 
to  me  now  the  completeness  of  my  halls  and  apartments, 
I  pray  thee,  0  Kliipil,  and  be  the  excellence  of  thy  con- 
struction made  \'isible  to  me ! ' 

Quoth  Khipil,  'To  hear  is  to  obey.' 

He  conducted  Shahpesh  among  the  unfinished  saloons 
and  imperfect  courts  and  roofless  rooms,  and  by  half- 
erected  obelisks,  and  columns  pierced  and  chipped,  of 
the  palace  of  his  building.  And  he  was  bewildered  at  the 
words  spoken  by  Shahpesh;  but  now  the  King  exalted 
him,  and  admired  the  perfection  of  his  craft,  the  greatness 
of  his  labour,  the  speediness  of  his  construction,  his  assiduity; 
feigning  not  to  behold  his  negligence. 

Presently  they  went  up  winding  balusters  to  a  marble 
terrace,  and  the  King  said,  'Such  is  thy  devotion  and 
constancy  in  toil,  0  Khipil,  that  thou  shalt  walk  before  me 
here.' 

He  then  commanded  Khipil  to  precede  him,  and  Khipil 
was  heightened  with  the  honour.  When  Khipil  had 
paraded  a  short  space  he  stopped  quickly,  and  said  to 


114  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Shahpcsh,  'Here  is,  as  it  chanceth,  a  gap,  0  King!  and  we 
can  go  no  further  this  way.' 

Shahpcsh  said,  'All  is  perfect,  and  it  is  my  will  thou 
delay  not  to  advance.' 

Khii)il  cried,  'The  gap  is  wide,  0  mighty  King,  and 
manifest,  and  it  is  an  hicomplete  part  of  thy  palace.' 

Then  said  Shahpcsh,  'O  Khipil,  I  see  no  distinction 
between  one  part  and  another;  excellent  are  all  parts 
in  beauty  and  proportion,  and  there  can  be  no  part  in- 
complete in  this  palace  that  occupieth  the  builder  four 
years  in  its  building:  so  advance,  do  my  bidding.' 

Khipil  yet  hesitated,  for  the  gap  was  of  many  strides, 
and  at  the  bottom  of  the  gap  was  a  deep  water,  and  he 
one  that  knew  not  the  motion  of  swimming.  But  Shahpcsh 
ordered  his  guard  to  point  their  arrows  in  the  direction 
of  Khipil,  and  Khipil  stepped  forward  hurriedly,  and  fell 
in  the  gap,  and  was  swallowetl  by  the  water  below.  When 
he  rose  the  second  time,  succour  reached  him,  and  he  was 
drawn  to  land  trembling,  his  teeth  chattering.  And  Shah- 
pcsh praised  him,  and  said,  '  This  is  an  apt  contrivance  for 
a  bath,  Khipil  O  my  builder!  well  conceived;  one  that 
taketh  by  surprise;  and  it  shall  be  thy  reward  daily  when 
much  talking  hath  fatigued  thee.' 

Then  he  bade  Kiiipil  lead  him  to  the  hall  of  state.  And 
when  they  were  there  Shahpcsh  said,  '  For  a  j)rivilege,  and 
as  a  mark  of  my  approbation,  I  give  thee  permission  to  sit 
in  the  marble  chair  of  yonder  throne,  even  in  my  presence, 
O  Khipil.' 

Khi})il  said,  'Surely,  0  King,  the  chair  is  not  yet  exe- 
cuted.' 

And  Shahpcsh  exclaimed,  'If  this  be  so,  thou  art  but 
the  length  of  thy  measure  on  the  ground,  O  talkative 
one!' 

Khipil  said,  'Nay,  'tis  not  so,  O  King  of  splendours! 
blind  that  T  am!  yonder  's  indeed  the  chair.' 


THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  KHIPIL  115 

And  Khipil  feared  the  King,  and  went  to  the  place 
where  the  chair  should  be,  and  bent  his  body  in  a  sitting 
posture,  eyeing  the  King,  and  made  pretence  to  sit  in  the 
chair  of  Shahpesh,  as  in  conspiracy  to  amuse  his  master. 

Then  said  Shahpesh,  'For  a  token  that  I  approve  thy 
execution  of  the  chair,  thou  shalt  be  honoured  by  remain- 
ing seated  in  it  up  to  the  hour  of  noon;  but  move  thou  to 
the  right  or  to  the  left,  showing  thy  soul  insensible  of  the 
honour  done  thee,  transfixed  thou  shalt  be  with  twenty 
arrows  and  five.' 

The  King  then  left  him  with  a  guard  of  twenty-five  of 
his  body-guard;  and  they  stood  around  him  with  bent 
bows,  so  that  Khipil  dared  not  move  from  his  sitting 
posture.  And  the  masons  and  the  people  crowded  to  see 
Khipil  sitting  on  his  master's  chair,  for  it  became  ru- 
moured about.  When  they  beheld  him  sitting  upon 
nothing,  and  he  trembling  to  stir  for  fear  of  the  loosening 
of  the  arrows,  they  laughed  so  that  they  rolled  upon  the 
floor  of  the  hall,  and  the  echoes  of  laughter  were  a  thou- 
sand-fold. Surely  the  arrows  of  the  guards  swayed  with 
the  laughter  that  shook  them. 

Now,  when  the  time  had  expired  for  his  sitting  in  the 
chair,  Shahpesh  returned  to  him,  and  he  was  cramped, 
pitiable  to  see;  and  Shahpesh  said,  'Thou  hast  been  ex- 
alted above  men,  0  Khipil!  for  that  thou  didst  execute 
for  thy  master  has  been  found  fitting  for  thee.' 

Then  he  bade  Khipil  lead  the  way  to  the  noble  gardens 
of  dalliance  and  pleasure  that  he  had  planted  and  con- 
trived. And  Khipil  went  in  that  state  described  by  the 
poet;  when  we  go  draggingly,  with  remonstrating  members. 

Knowing  a  dreadful  strength  behind, 
And  a  dark  fate  before. 

They  came  to  the  gardens,  and  behold,  these  were  full 
of  weeds  and  nettles,  the  fountains  dry,  no  tree  to  be 


116  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

seen — a  desert.  And  Shahpcsh  cried,  'This  is  indeed 
of  admirable  design,  O  Khipil!  Feelest  thou  not  the 
coohiess  of  the  fountains? — their  ref reshingness ?  Truly 
I  am  grateful  to  thee!  And  these  flowers,  pluck  me  now 
a  handful,  and  tell  me  of  their  perfume.' 

Klii[)il  i)lucked  a  handful  of  the  nettles  that  were  there 
in  the  place  of  flowers,  and  put  his  nose  to  them  before 
Shahpesh,  till  his  nose  was  reddened;  and  desire  to  rub 
it  waxed  in  him,  and  possessed  him,  and  became  a  pas- 
sion, so  that  he  could  scarce  refrain  from  rubbing  it  even 
in  the  Iving's  presence.  And  the  King  encouraged  him 
to  sniff  and  enjoy  their  fragrance,  repeating  the  poet's 
words: 

Methinks  I  am  a  lover  and  a  child, 

A  little  child  and  happy  lover,  both! 

When  by  the  breuth  of  flowers  I  am  beguiled 

From  sense  of  pain,  and  lulled  in  odorous  sloth. 

So  I  adore  them,  that  no  mistress  sweet 

Seems  worthier  of  the  love  which  they  awake: 

In  innocence  and  beauty  more  complete, 

Was  never  maiden  cheek  in  morning  lake. 

Oh,  while  I  live,  surround  me  with  fresh  flow^ers! 

Oh,  when  I  die,  then  bury  me  in  their  bowers! 

And  the  King  said,  'What  sayest  thou,  0  my  builder? 
that  is  a  fair  quotation,  applicable  to  thy  feelings,  one 
that  cx])rcsseth  them?' 

Khii)il  answered,  "Tis  eloquent,  0  great  King!  com- 
prehensiveness would  be  its  portion,  but  that  it  alludeth 
not  to  the  delight  of  chafing.' 

Then  Shahpesh  laughed,  and  cried,  'Chafe  not!  it  is 
an  ill  thing  and  a  hideous!  This  nosegay,  0  Khipil,  it 
is  for  thee  to  present  to  thy  mistress.  Truly  she  will  re- 
ceive thee  well  after  its  presentation!  I  will  have  it  now 
sent  in  thy  name,  with  word  that  thou  followest  ciuickly. 


THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  KHIPIL  117 

And  for  thy  nettled  nose,  surely  if  the  whim  seize  thee 
that  thou  desirest  its  chafing,  to  thy  neighbour  is  per- 
mitted what  to  thy  hand  is  refused.' 

The  King  set  a  guard  upon  Khipil  to  see  that  his  orders 
were  executed,  and  appointed  a  time  for  him  to  return 
to  the  gardens. 

At  the  hour  indicated  Khipil  stood  before  Shahpesh 
again.  He  was  pale,  saddened;  his  tongue  drooped  like 
the  tongue  of  a  heavy  bell,  that  when  it  soundeth  giveth 
forth  mournful  sounds  only:  he  had  also  the  look  of 
one  battered  with  many  beatings.  So  the  King  said, 
'How  of  the  presentation  of  the  flowers  of  thy  culture, 
0  Khipil?' 

He  answered,  'Surely,  0  King,  she  received  me  with 
wrath,  and  I  am  shamed  by  her.' 

And  the  King  said,  '  How  of  my  clemency  in  the  matter 
of  the  chafing?' 

Khipil  answered,  '0  King  of  splendours!  I  made  peti- 
tion to  my  neighbours  whom  I  met,  accosting  them  civilly 
and  with,  imploring,  for  I  ached  to  chafe,  and  it  was  the 
very  raging  thirst  of  desire  to  chafe  that  was  mine,  de- 
vouring eagerness  for  solace  of  chafing.  And  they  chafed 
me,  O  ffing;  yet  not  in  those  parts  which  throbbed  for 
the  chafing,  but  in  those  which  abhorred  it.' 

Then  Shahpesh  smiled  and  said,  "Tis  certain  that  the 
magnanimity  of  monarchs  is  as  the  rain  that  falleth,  the 
sun  that  shineth:  and  in  this  spot  it  fertilizeth  richness; 
in  that  encourageth  rankness.  So  art  thou  but  a  weed,  0 
Khipil!  and  my  grace  is  thy  chastisement.' 

Now,  the  King  ceased  not  persecuting  Khipil,  under 
pretence  of  doing  him  honour  and  heaping  favours  on 
him.  Three  days  and  three  nights  was  Khipil  gasping 
without  water,  compelled  to  drink  of  the  drought  of  the 
fountain,  as  an  honour  at  the  hands  of  the  King.  And 
he  was  seven  days  and  seven  nights  made  to  stand  with 


118  THE  SHAVING  OF  SIUGPAT 

stretched  arms,  as  they  were  the  branches  of  a  tree,  in 
each  hand  a  pomegranate.  And  iSliuhpcsh  brought  the 
people  of  his  court  to  regard  the  wondrous  pomegranate- 
shoot  pkinted  by  Khipil,  very  wondrous,  and  a  new  sort, 
worthy  the  gardens  of  a  King.  So  the  wisdom  of  the 
King  was  apphuided,  and  men  wotted  he  knew  how  to 
punish  offences  in  coin,  by  the  punishment  inflicted  on 
Khipil  the  builder.  Before  that  time  his  affairs  had  lan- 
guished, and  the  currents  of  business  instead  of  flow- 
ing had  become  stagnant  pools.  It  was  the  fashion  to 
do  as  did  Ivhipil,  and  fancy  the  tongue  a  constructor 
rather  than  a  commentator;  and  there  is  a  doom  upon 
that  people  and  that  man  which  runneth  to  seed  in  gabble, 
as  the  poet  says  in  his  wisdom : 

If  thou  wouldst  be  famous,  and  rich  in  splendid  fruits, 
Leave  to  bloom  the  flower  of  things,  and  dig  among  the  roots. 

Truly  after  Khipil's  punishment  there  were  few  in  the 
dominions  of  Shahpesh  who  sought  to  win  the  honours 
bestowed  by  him  on  gabblers  and  idlers:  as  again  the 
poet: 

When  to  loquacious  fools  with  patience  rare 
I  listen,  I  have  thoughts  of  Khipil's  chair: 
His  bath,  his  nosegay,  and  his  fount  I  see, — 
Himself  streteh'd  out  as  a  pomegranate-tree. 
And  that  I  am  not  Shahpesh  I  regret, 
So  to  inmesh  the  babbler  in  his  net. 
Well  is  that  wisdom  worthy  to  be  sung, 
^^^lich  raised  the  Palace  of  the  Wagging  Tongue! 

And  whoso  is  punished  after  the  fiishion  of  Shahpesh, 
the  Persian,  on  KJiipil  the  Builder,  is  said  to  be  one  'in 
the  Palace  of  the  Wagging  Tongue'  to  this  time. 


THE  GENIE  KARAZ  119 


THE   GENIE   I^RAZ 

Now,  when  the  voice  of  the  Vizier  had  ceased,  Shibli 
Bagarag  exclaimed,  '  0  Vizier,  this  night,  no  later,  I  '11 
surprise  Shagpat,  and  shave  him  while  he  sleepeth:  and 
he  shall  wake  shorn  beside  his  spouse.  Wullahy!  I  '11 
delay  no  longer,  I,  Shibh  Bagarag.' 

Said  the  Vizier, 'Thou?' 

And  he  replied,  'Surely,  0  Vizier!  thou  knowest  little 
of  my  dexterity.' 

So  the  Vizier  laughed,  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka  laughed, 
and  he  was  at  a  loss  to  interpret  the  cause  of  their  laugh- 
ter. Then  said  Noorna,  '  0  my  betrothed,  there  's  not  a 
doubt  among  us  of  thy  dexterity,  nor  question  of  thy 
willingness;  but  this  shaving  of  Shagpat,  wullahy!  'tis 
longer  work  than  what  thou  makest  of  it.' 

And  he  cried,  '  How  ?  because  of  the  Chief  of  Identicals 
planted  by  thee  in  his  head?' 

She  answered,  'Because  of  that;  but  'tis  the  smallest 
opposer,  that.' 

Then  the  Vizier  said,  '  Let  us  consult.' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  gave  ear,  and  the  Vizier  continued, 
'There  's  first,  the  Chief  of  Identicals  planted  by  thee 
in  the  head  of  that  presumptuous  fellow,  O  my  daughter! 
By  what  means  shall  that  be  overcome  ? ' 

She  said,  'I  rank  not  that  first,  0  Feshnavat,  my  father; 
surely  I  rank  first  the  illusions  with  which  Rabesqurat 
hath  surrounded  him,  and  made  it  difficult  to  know  him 


120  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAQPAT 

from  his  semblances,  whenever  real  danger  threateneth 
him.' 

The  Vizier  assented,  saying,  'Second,  then,  the  Chief 
of  Identicals?' 

She  answered,  'Nay,  0  my  father;  second,  the  weak- 
ness that 's  in  man,  and  the  little  probability  of  his  finish- 
ing with  Shagpat  at  one  effort;  and  there  is  but  a  sole 
chance  for  whoso  attempteth,  and  if  he  faileth,  'tis  forever 
he  faileth.' 

So  the  Vizier  said,  'Even  I  knew  not  'twas  so  grave! 
Third,  then,  the  Chief  of  Identicals?' 

She  replied,  'Third!  which  showeth  the  difficulty  of 
the  task.  Read  ye  not,  first,  how  the  barber  must  come 
upon  Shagpat  and  fix  him  for  his  operation;  second, 
how  the  barber  must  be  possessed  of  more  than  mortal 
strength  to  master  him  in  so  many  strokes;  third,  how 
the  barber  must  have  a  blade  like  no  other  blade  in  this 
world  in  sharpness,  in  temper,  in  velocity  of  sweep,  that 
he  may  reap  this  crop  which  flourishcth  on  Shagpat, 
and  with  it  the  magic  hair  which  defieth  edge  of  mortal 
blades?' 

Now,  the  Vizier  sighed  at  the  words,  saying,  'Powerful 
is  Shagpat.  I  knew  not  the  thing  I  undertook.  I  fear 
his  mastery  of  us,  and  we  shall  be  contemned — objects 
for  the  red  finger  of  scorn.' 

Noorna  turned  to  Shibli  Bagarag  and  asked,  'Do  the 
throe  bonds  of  entci-prise — vengeance,  ambition,  and  love 
— shrink  in  thee  from  this  great  contest?' 

Shibli  Bagarag  said,  '  'Tis  terrible  !  on  mv  head 
be  it!' 

She  gazed  at  him  a  moment  tenderly,  and  said,  'Thou 
art  worthy  of  what  is  in  store  for  thee,  O  my  betrothed! 
and  I  think  little  of  the  dangers,  in  contemplation  of 
tlio  courage  in  thee.  Lo,  if  vengeance  and  ambition  spur 
thee  so,  how  will  not  love  when  added  to  the  two?' 


THE   GENIE  KARAZ  121 

Then  said  she,  'As  to  the  enchantments  and  spells 
that  shall  overreach  him,  and  as  to  the  blade  wherewith 
to  shear  him  ? ' 

Feshnavat  exclaimed,  '  Yonder 's  indeed  where  we 
stumble  and  are  tripped  at  starting.' 

But  she  cried,  '  What  if  I  know  of  a  sword  that  nought 
on  earth  or  under  resisteth,  and  before  the  keen  edge  of 
which  all  Illusions  and  Identicals  are  as  summer  grass  to 
the  scythe?' 

They  both  shouted,  'The  whereabout  of  that  sword, 
ONooma!' 

So  she  said,  "Tis  in  Aklis,  in  the  mountains  of  the 
Koosh;  and  the  seven  sons  of  Aklis  sharpen  it  day  and 
night  till  the  adventurer  cometh  to  claim  it  for  his  oc- 
casion. Whoso  succeedeth  in  coming  to  them  they  know 
to  have  power  over  the  sword,  and  'tis  then  holiday  for 
them.  Many  are  the  impediments,  and  they  are  as  holes 
where  the  fox  haunteth.  So  they  deliver  to  his  hand 
the  sword  till  his  object  is  attained,  his  Event  mastered, 
smitten  through  with  it;  and  'tis  called  the  Sword  of 
Events.  Surely,  with  it  the  fath.er  of  the  Seven  van- 
quished the  mighty  Roc,  Kroojis,  that  threatened  man- 
kind with  ruin,  and  a  stain  of  the  Roc's  blood  is  yet  on 
the  hilt  of  the  sword.  How  sayest  thou,  O  Feshnavat, 
— shall  we  devote  ourselves  to  get  possession  of  that 
Sword?' 

So  the  Vizier  brightened  at  her  words,  and  said,  'O 
excellent  in  wisdom  and  star  of  counsel!  speak  further, 
and  as  to  the  means.' 

Noorna  bin  Noorka  continued,  'Thou  knowest,  0  my 
father,  I  am  proficient  in  the  arts  of  magic,  and  I  am  what 
I  am,  and  what  I  shall  be,  by  its  uses.  'Tis  known  to 
thee  also  that  I  hold  a  Genie  in  bondage,  and  can  utter  ten 
spells  and  one  spell  in  a  breath.  Surely  my  services  to 
the  youth  in  his  attainment  of  the  Sword  will  be  beyond 


122  THE  SILVVIXG  OF  SIL\GPAT 

price!  Xow  to  roacli  Aklis  and  the  Sword  there  are  three 
things  needed — churins:  and  one  is  a  phial  full  of  the 
waters  of  Paraxid  from  the  wells  in  the  mountain  yon- 
side  the  desert;  and  one,  certain  hairs  that  giow  in  the 
tail  of  the  horse  Garraveen,  he  that  roameth  wild  in  the 
meadows  of  Melistan;  and  one,  that  the  youth  gather 
and  bear  to  Aklis,  for  the  white  antelope  Gulrevaz,  the 
Lily  of  the  Lovely  Light  that  groweth  in  the  hollow 
of  the  crags  over  the  Enchanted  Sea:  with  these  spells 
he  will  command  the  Sword  of  Aklis,  and  nothing  can 
bar  him  passage.  Moreover  I  will  expend  in  his  aid  all 
my  subtleties,  my  transformations,  the  stores  of  my 
wisdom.  Many  seek  this  Sword,  and  people  the  realms 
of  Rabesqurat,  or  are  beasts  in  Aklis,  or  crowned  Apes, 
or  go  to  feed  the  Roc,  Kroojis,  in  the  abyss  beneath  the 
Roc's-egg  bridge;  but  there 's  virtue  in  Shibli  Baga- 
rag:  wullahy!  I  am  wistful  in  him  of  the  hand  of 
Destiny,  and  he  will  succeed  in  this  undertaking  if  he 
dareth  it.' 

Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  'At  thy  bidding,  0  Noorna! 
Care  I  for  dangers  ?  I  'm  on  fire  to  wield  the  Sword,  and 
master  the  Event.' 

Thereupon,  Noorna  bin  Noorka  arose  instantly,  and 
took  him  by  the  cheeks  a  tender  pinch,  and  praised  him. 
Then  drew  she  round  him  a  circle  with  her  forefinger 
that  left  a  mark  like  the  shimmering  of  evanescent  green 
flame,  saying,  'White  was  the  day  I  set  eyes  on  thee!' 
Round  the  Vizier,  her  father,  she  drew  a  like  circle;  and 
she  took  an  unguent,  and  traced  with  it  characters  on  the 
two  circles,  and  letters  of  strange  form,  arrowy,  lance- 
like, like  leaning  sheaves,  and  crouching  baboons,  and 
kicking  jackasses,  and  cocks  a-crow,  and  lutes  slack- 
strung;  and  she  knelt  and  nmmbled  over  and  over  words 
of  magic,  like  the  drone  of  a  bee  to  hear,  and  as  a  roll 
of  water,  nothing  distinguishable.    After  that  she  sought 


THE  GENIE  KARAZ  123 

for  an  unguent  of  a  red  colour,  and  smeared  it  on  a  part 
of  the  floor  by  the  corner  of  the  room,  and  wrote  on  it 
in  silver  fluid  a  word  that  was  the  word  'Eblis/  and 
over  that  likewise  she  droned  awhile.  Presently  she 
arose  with  a  white-heated  face,  the  sweat  on  her  brow, 
and  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag  and  Feshnavat  hurriedly  and 
in  a  harsh  tone,  '  How  ?    have  ye  fear  ? ' 

They  answered,  'Our  faith  is  in  Allah,  our  confidence 
in  thee.' 

Said  she  then,  '  I  summon  the  Genie  I  hold  in  bondage. 
He  will  be  wrathful;  but  ye  are  secure  from  him.  He  's 
this  moment  in  the  farthest  region  of  earth,  doing  ill, 
as  is  his  wont,  and  the  wont  of  the  stock  of  Eblis.' 

So  the  Vizier  said,  '  He  '11  be  no  true  helper,  this  Genie, 
and  I  care  not  for  his  company.' 

She  answered,  '0  my  father!  leave  thou  that  to  me. 
What  says  the  poet  ? — 

"It  is  the  sapiency  of  fools, 
To  shrink  from  handling  evil  tools."* 

Now,  while  she  was  speaking,  she  suddenly  inclined 
her  ear  as  to  a  distant  noise;  but  they  heard  nothing. 
Then,  after  again  listening,  she  cried  in  a  sharp  voice, 
'Ho!  muffle  your  mouths  with  both  hands,  and  stir  not 
from  the  ring  of  the  circles,  as  ye  value  life  and  its  bless- 
ings.' 

So  they  did  as  she  bade  them,  and  watched  her  curi- 
ously. Lo!  she  swathed  the  upper  and  lower  part  of 
her  face  in  linen,  leaving  the  lips  and  eyes  exposed;  and 
she  took  water  from  an  ewer,  and  sprinkled  it  on  her  head, 
and  on  her  arms  and  her  feet,  muttering  incantations. 
Then  she  listened  a  third  time,  and  stooped  to  the  floor, 
and  put  her  lips  to  it,  and  called  the  name, '  Karaz ! '  And 
she  called  this  name  seven  times  loudly,  sneezing  between- 


124  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

whiles.  Then,  as  it  were  in  answer  to  her  summons,  there 
was  a  deep  growl  of  thunder,  and  the  palace  rocked,  tot- 
tering; and  the  air  became  smoky  and  full  of  curling  va- 
pours. Presently  they  were  aware  of  the  cry  of  a  Cat, 
and  its  miaulings;  and  the  patch  of  red  unguent  on  the 
floor  parted  and  they  beheld  a  tawny  Cat  with  an  arched 
back.  So  Noorna  bin  Noorka  frowned  fiercely  at  the  Cat, 
and  cried,  'This  is  thy  shape,  0  Karaz;  change!  for  it 
serves  not  the  purjDose.' 

The  Cat  changed,  and  was  a  Leopard  with  glowing 
yellow  eyes,  crouched  for  the  spring.  So  Noorna  bin 
Noorka  stamped,  and  cried  again,  'This  is  thy  shape,  0 
Karaz;  change!  for  it  serves  not  the  purpose.' 

And  the  Leopard  changed,  and  was  a  Serpent  with 
many  folds,  sleek,  curled,  venomous,  hissing. 

Noorna  bin  Noorka  cried  in  wrath,  'This  is  thy  shape, 
O  Karaz;  change!  or  thou  'It  be  no  other  till  Eblis  is  ac- 
cepted in  Paradise.' 

And  the  Serpent  vanished.  Lo!  in  its  place  a  Genie 
of  terrible  aspect,  black  as  a  solitary  tree  scared  by  light- 
ning; his  forehead  ridged  and  cloven  with  red  streak.s; 
his  hair  and  ears  reddened;  his  eyes  like  two  hollow  pits 
dug  by  the  shepherd  for  the  wolf,  and  the  wolf  in  them. 
He  shouted,  'What  work  is  it  now,  thou  accursed  trai- 
tress?' 

Noorna  replied,  'I've  need  of  thee!' 

He  said,  'What  shape?' 

She  answered,  'The  shape  of  an  Ass  that  will  carry 
two  on  its  back,  thou  Perversity!' 

ITpon  that,  he  cried,  '0  faithless  woman,  how  long 
shall  I  be  the  slave  of  thy  plotting?  Now,  but  for  that 
hair  of  my  head,  plucked  by  thy  hand  while  I  slept,  I 
were  free,  no  doer  of  thy  tasks.  Say,  who  be  these  that 
mark  us?' 

She  answered,  'One,  the  Vizier  Feshnavat;    and  one, 


THE  GENIE  KARAZ  125 

Shibli  Bagarag  of  Shiraz,  he  that 's  destined  to  shave 
Shagpat,  the  son  of  Shimpoor,  the  son  of  Shoolpi,  the 
son  of  Shullum;  and  the  youth  is  my  betrothed.' 

Now,  at  her  words  the  whole  Genie  became  as  live 
coal  with  anger,  and  he  panted  black  and  bright,  and 
made  a  stride  toward  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  stretched  his 
arm  out  to  seize  him;  but  Noorna  blew  quickly  on  the 
circles  she  had  drawn,  and  the  circles  rose  up  in  a  white 
flame  high  as  the  heads  of  those  present,  and  the  Genie 
shrank  hastily  back  from  the  flame,  and  was  seized  with 
fits  of  sneezing.  Then  she  said  in  scorn,  'Easily,  O  Karaz, 
is  a  woman  outwitted!  Surely  I  could  not  guess  what 
would  be  thy  action!  and  I  was  wanting  in  foresight  and 
insight!  and  I  am  a  woman  bearing  the  weight  of  my 
power  as  a  woodman  staggereth  under  the  logs  he  hath 
felled!' 

So  she  taunted  him,  and  he  still  sneezing  and  bent 
double  with  the  might  of  the  sneeze.  Then  said  Noorna 
in  a  stern  voice,  'No  more  altercation  between  us!  Wait 
thou  here  till  I  re-appear,  0  Karaz ! ' 

Thereupon,  she  went  from  them;  and  the  two,  Fesh- 
navat  and  Shibli  Bagarag,  feared  greatly  being  left  with 
the  Genie,  for  he  became  all  colours,  and  loured  on  them 
each  time  that  he  ceased  sneezing.  He  was  clearly  men- 
acing them  when  Noorna  returned,  and  in  her  hand  a 
saddle  made  of  hide,  traced  over  with  mystic  characters 
and  gold  stripes. 

So  she  cried,  'Take  this!'  Then,  seeing  he  hesitated, 
she  unclosed  from  her  left  palm  a  powder,  and  scattered 
it  over  him;  and  he  grew  meek,  and  the  bending  knee 
of  obedience  was  his,  and  he  took  the  saddle.  So  she 
said,  "Tis  well!  Go  now,  and  wait  outside  the  city  in 
the  shape  of  an  Ass,  with  this  saddle  on  thy  back.' 

The  Genie  groaned,  and  said,  'To  hear  is  to  obey!' 
And  he  departed  with  those  words,  for  she  held  him  in 


120  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

bondage.  Then  she  calmed  down  the  white  flames  of  the 
circles  that  enclosed  Shibli  Bagarag  and  the  Vizier  Fesh- 
navat,  and  they  stepped  forth,  marvelling  at  the  greatness 
of  her  sorceries  that  held  such  a  Genie  in  bondage. 


THE  WELL  OF  PARAVID  127 


THE  WELL  OF   PARAVID 

Now,  there  was  haste  in  the  movements  of  Noorna  bin 
Noorka,  and  she  arrayed  herself  and  clutched  Shibli 
Bagarag  by  the  arm,  and  the  twain  departed  from  Fesh- 
navat  the  Vizier,  and  came  to  the  outside  of  the  city, 
and  lo!  there  was  the  Genie  by  a  well  under  a  palm,  and 
he  standing  in  the  shape  of  an  Ass,  saddled.  So  they 
mounted  him,  and  in  a  moment  they  were  in  the  midst 
of  the  desert,  and  naught  round  them  save  the  hot  glimmer 
of  the  sands  and  the  grey  of  the  sky.  Surely,  the  Ass 
went  at  such  a  pace  as  never  Ass  went  before  in  this  world, 
resting  not  by  the  rivulets,  nor  under  the  palms,  nor  beside 
the  date-boughs;  it  was  as  if  the  Ass  scurried  without 
motion  of  his  legs,  so  swiftly  went  he.  At  last  the  desert 
gave  signs  of  a  border  on  the  low  line  of  the  distance,  and 
this  grew  rapidly  higher  as  they  advanced,  revealing  a 
country  of  hills  and  rocks,  and  at  the  base  of  these  the 
Ass  rested. 

So  Noorna  said,  'This  desert  that  we  have  passed,  O 
my  betrothed,  many  are  they  that  perish  in  it,  and  reach 
not  the  well;  but  give  thanks  to  Allah  that  it  is  passed.' 

Then  said  she,  'Dismount,  and  be  wary  of  moving  to 
the  front  or  to  the  rear  of  this  Ass,  and  measure  thy  dis- 
tance from  the  lash  of  his  tail.' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  dismounted,  and  followed  her  up 
the  hills  and  the  rocks,  through  ravines  and  gorges  of 
the   rocks,   and   by   tumbling  torrents,   among   hanging 


12S  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

woods,  over  perilous  precipices,  where  no  sun  hath  pierced, 
and  the  bones  of  travellers  whiten  in  loneliness;  and 
they  continued  mounting  upward  by  winding  paths, 
now  closed  in  by  coverts,  now  upon  open  heights  having 
great  views,  and  presently  a  mountain  was  disclosed  to 
them,  green  at  the  sides  high  up  it ;  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
said  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  'Mount  here,  for  the  cumiing  of 
this  Ass  can  furnish  him  no  excuse  further  for  making 
thee  food  for  the  birds  of  prey.' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  mounted,  and  they  ceased  not  to 
ascend  the  green  slopes  till  the  grass  became  scanty  and 
darkness  fell,  and  they  were  in  a  region  of  snow  and  cold. 
Then  Noorna  bin  Noorka  tethered  the  Ass  to  a  stump  of 
a  tree  and  breathed  in  his  ear,  and  the  Ass  became  as  a 
creature  carved  in  stone;  and  she  drew  from  her  bosom 
two  bags  of  silk,  and  blew  in  one  and  entered  it,  bidding 
Shibli  Bagarag  do  likewise  with  the  other  bag;  and  he 
obeyed  her,  drawing  it  up  to  his  neck,  and  the  delightful- 
ness  of  warmth  came  over  him.  Then  said  she, '  To-morrow, 
at  noon,  we  shall  reach  near  the  sunmiit  of  the  mountain  and 
the  Well  of  Paravid,  if  my  power  last  over  this  Ass;  and 
from  that  time  thou  wilt  be  on  the  high  road  to  greatness, 
so  fail  not  to  remember  what  I  have  done  for  thee,  and 
be  not  guilty  of  ingratitude  when  thy  hand  is  the  stronger.' 

He  promised  her,  and  they  lay  and  slept.  When  he 
awoke  the  sun  was  half-risen,  and  he  looked  at  Noorna 
bin  Noorka  in  the  silken  bag,  and  she  was  yet  in  the  peace- 
fulness  of  pleasant  dreams;  but  for  the  Ass,  surely  his  eyes 
rolled,  and  his  head  and  fore  legs  were  endued  with  life,  while 
his  latter  half  seemed  of  stone.  And  the  youth  called  to 
Noorna  bin  Noorka,  and  pointed  to  her  the  strangeness  of 
the  condition  of  the  Ass.  As  she  cast  eyes  on  him  she  cried 
out,  and  rushed  to  him,  and  took  him  by  the  ears  and  blew 
up  his  nostrils,  and  the  animal  was  quiet.  Then  she  and 
ShibU  Bagarag  mount(Ml  him  again,  and  she  said  to  him, 


THE   WELL  OF   PARAVID  129 

'It  is  well  thou  wert  more  vigilant  than  I,  and  that  the 
sun  rose  not  on  this  Ass  while  I  slept,  or  my  enchantment 
would  have  thawed  on  him,  and  he  would  have  'scaped  us.' 

She  gave  her  heel  to  the  Ass,  and  the  Ass  hung  his 
tail  in  suUenness  and  drooped  his  head;  and  she  laughed, 
crying,  '0  Karaz,  silly  fellow!  do  thy  work  willingly, 
and  take  wisely  thine  outwitting.' 

She  jeered  him  as  they  journeyed,  and  made  the  soul 
of  ShibU  Bagarag  merry,  so  that  he  jerked  in  his  seat 
upon  the  Ass.  Now,  as  they  ascended  the  mountain  they 
came  to  the  opening  of  a  cavern,  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
halted  the  Ass,  and  said  to  Shibh  Bagarag,  '  We  part  here, 
and  I  wait  for  thee  in  this  place.  Take  this  phial,  and  fill 
it  with  the  waters  of  the  well,  after  thy  bath.  The  way 
is  before  thee — speed  on  it.' 

He  climbed  the  sides  of  the  mountain,  and  was  soon 
hidden  in  the  clefts  and  beyond  the  perches  of  the  vulture. 
She  kept  her  eyes  on  the  rocky  point  when  he  disappeared, 
awaiting  his  return;  and  the  sun  went  over  her  head 
and  sank  on  the  yonside  of  the  mountain,  and  it  was  by 
the  beams  of  the  moon  that  she  beheld  Shibli  Bagarag 
dropping  from  the  crags  and  ledges  of  rock,  sliding  and 
steadying  himself  downward  till  he  reached  her  with  the 
phial  in  his  hand,  filled;  and  he  was  radiant,  as  it  were 
divine  with  freshness,  so  that  Noorna,  before  she  spoke  wel- 
come to  him,  was  lost  in  contemplating  the  warm  shine  of 
his  visage,  calling  to  mind  the  poet's  words: 

The  wealth  of  light  in  sun  and  moon. 

All  nature's  wealth, 
Hath  mortal  beauty  for  a  boon 

When  match 'd  with  health. 

Then  said  she,  '0  Shibh  Bagarag,  'tis  achieved,  this 
first  of  thy  tasks;  for  mutely  on  the  fresh  red  of  thy  mouth, 
my    betrothed,    speaketh   the    honey    of   persuasiveness, 


130  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

and  the  children  of  Aklis  will  not  resist  thee.'  So  she  took 
the  phial  from  him  and  led  forth  the  Ass,  and  the  twain 
mounted  the  Ass  and  descended  the  slopes  of  the  mountain 
in  moonlight ;  and  Shibli  Bagarag  said, '  Lo !  I  have  marked 
wonders,  and  lived  a  life  since  our  parting;  and  this  well, 
'tis  a  miracle  to  dip  in  it,  and  by  it  sit  many  maidens 
weeping  and  old  men  babbling,  and  youths  that  were  idle 
youths  striking  bubbles  from  the  surface  of  the  water. 
The  well  is  rounded  with  marble,  and  the  sky  is  clear  in  it, 
cool  in  it,  the  whole  earth  imaged  therein.' 

Then  Noorna  said,  'Hadst  thou  a  diflSculty  in  obtain- 
ing the  waters  of  the  well  ? ' 

He  answered,  'Surely  all  was  made  smooth  for  me  by 
thy  aid.  Now  when  I  came  to  the  well  I  marked  not 
them  by  it,  but  })lungcd,  and  the  depth  of  that  well  seemed 
to  me  the  very  depth  of  the  earth  itself,  so  went  I  ever 
downward ;  and  when  I  was  near  the  bottom  of  the  well 
I  had  forgotten  life  above,  and  lo !  no  sooner  had  I  touched 
the  bottom  of  the  well  when  my  head  emerged  from  the 
surface:  'twas  wondrous!  But  for  a  sign  that  I  touched 
the  bottom  of  the  well,  see,  O  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  the 
Jewel,  the  one  of  myriads  that  glitter  at  the  bottom,  and  I 
plucked  it  for  a  gift  to  thee.' 

So  Noorna  took  the  Jewel  from  his  hand  that  was  torn 
and  crimson,  and  she  cried,  'Thou  fair  youth,  thou  bleedest 
with  the  plucking  of  it,  and  it  was  written,  no  hand  shall 
pluck  a  jewel  at  the  bottom  of  that  well  without  letting 
of  blood.  Even  so  it  is!  Worthy  art  thou,  and  I  was  not 
mistaken  in  thee.' 

At  her  words  Shibli  Bagarag  burst  forth  into  praises 
of  her,  and  he  sang: 

'What  is  my  worthiness 

Match 'd  with  thy  worth? 
Darkness  and  carthiness, 
Dust  and  deartli! 


THE   AVELL   OF   PARAVID  131 

O  Nooma,  thou  art  wise  above  women:  great  and  glorious 
over  them.' 

In  this  fashion  the  youth  lauded  her  that  was  his  be- 
trothed, but  she  exclaimed,  'Hush!  or  the  jealousy  of 
this  Ass  will  be  aroused,  and  of  a  surety  he  '11  spill  us.' 

Then  he  laughed  and  she  laughed  till  the  tail  of  Karaz 
trembled. 


132  THE   SHAVING   OF   SHAGPAT 


THE  HORSE  GARRA\^EN 

Now,  they  descended  leisurely  the  slopes  of  the  mountain, 
and  when  they  were  again  in  the  green  of  its  base,  Noorna 
called  to  the  Ass,  'Ho!  Karaz!  sniff  now  the  breezes, 
for  the  end  of  our  journey  by  night  is  the  meadows  of 
Mclistan.  Forward  in  thy  might,  and  bray  not  when 
we  are  in  them,  for  thy  comfort's  sake!' 

The  Ass  sniffed,  turning  to  the  four  quarters,  and 
chose  a  certain  direction,  and  bore  them  swiftly  over 
hills  and  streams  edd>dng  in  silver;  over  huge  mounds 
of  sand,  where  the  tents  of  Bedouins  stood  in  white  clus- 
ters; over  lakes  smooth  as  the  cheeks  of  sleeping  loveliness; 
by  walls  of  cities,  mosques,  and  palaces;  under  towers  that 
rose  as  an  armed  man  with  the  steel  on  his  brows  and  the 
frown  of  battle;  by  shores  of  the  pale  foaming  sea  it  bore 
them,  going  at  a  pace  that  the  Arab  on  his  steed  outstrippeth 
not.  So  when  the  sun  was  red  and  the  dews  were  blushing 
with  new  light,  they  struggled  from  a  wilderness  of  barren 
broken  ground,  and  saw  beneath  them,  in  the  warm  beams, 
green,  peaceful,  deep,  the  meadows  of  Mclistan.  They 
were  meadows  dancing  with  flowers,  as  it  had  been  fresh 
damsels  of  the  mountain,  fair  with,  variety  of  colours 
that  were  so  many  gleams  of  changing  light  as  the  breezes 
of  the  morn  swept  over  them;  lavish  of  hues,  of  sweetness, 
of  pleasantness,  fit  garden  for  the  souls  of  the  blest. 

Then,  after  they  had  gazed  awhile,  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
said,   'In  these  meadows  the  Horse  Garraveen  roameth 


THE  HORSE  GARRAVEEN  133 

at  will.  Heroes  of  bliss  bestride  him  on  great  days.  He 
is  black  to  look  on;  speed  quivers  in  his  flanks  like  the 
hghtning;  his  nostrils  are  wide  with  flame;  there  is  that 
in  his  eye  which  is  settled  fire,  and  that  in  his  hoofs 
which  is  ready  thunder;  when  he  paws  the  earth  kingdoms 
quake:  no  animal  liveth  with  blood  hke  the  Horse  Garra- 
veen.  He  is  under  a  curse,  for  that  he  bore  on  his  back 
one  who  defied  the  Prophet.  Now,  to  make  him  come 
to  thee  thou  must  blow  the  call  of  battle,  and  to  catch  him 
thou  must  contrive  to  strike  him  on  the  fetlock  as  he  runs 
with  this  musk-ball  which  I  give  thee;  and  to  tame  him 
thou  must  trace  between  his  eyes  a  figure  o^  the  crescent 
with  thy  forenail.  When  that  is  done,  bring  him  to  me 
here,  where  I  await  thee,  and  I  will  advise  thee  further.' 

So  she  said,  'Go!'  and  Shibh  Bagarag  showed  her 
the  breadth  of  his  shoulders,  and  stepped  briskly  toward 
the  meadows,  and  was  soon  brushing  among  the  flowers 
and  soft  mosses  of  the  meadows,  lifting  his  nostrils  to  the 
joyful  smells,  looking  about  him  with  the  broad  eye  of 
one  that  hungereth  for  a  coming  thing.  The  birds  went  up 
above  him,  and  the  trees  shook  and  sparkled,  and  the  waters 
of  brooks  and  broad  rivers  flashed  like  waving  mirrors 
waved  by  the  slave-girls  in  sport  when  the  beauties  of  the 
harem  riot  and  dip  their  gleaming  shoulders  in  the  bath. 
He  wandered  on,  lost  m  the  gladness  that  Hved,  till  the 
loud  neigh  of  a  steed  startled  him,  and  by  the  banks  of 
a  river  before  him  he  beheld  the  Horse  Garraveen  stooping 
to  drink  of  the  river;  glorious  was  the  look  of  the  creature, 
— silver-hoofed,  fashioned  in  the  curves  of  beauty  and 
swiftness.  So  Shibli  Bagarag  put  up  his  two  hands  and 
blew  the  call  of  battle,  and  the  Horse  Garraveen  arched  his 
neck  at  the  call,  and  swung  upon  his  haunches,  and  sought 
the  call,  answering  it,  and  tossing  his  mane  as  he  advanced 
swiftly.  Then,  as  he  neared,  Shibli  Bagarag  held  the 
musk-ball  in  his  fingers,  and  aimed  at  the  fetlock  of  the 


134  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Horse  Garraveen,  and  flung  it,  and  struck  him  so  that 
he  stumbled  and  fell.  He  snorted  fiercely  as  he  bent 
to  the  grass,  but  Shibli  Bagarag  ran  to  him,  and  grasped 
strongly  the  tuft  of  hair  hanging  forward  between  his  ears, 
and  traced  between  his  fine  eyes  a  figure  of  the  crescent  with 
his  forenail,  and  the  Hoi-se  ceased  plunging,  and  was  gentle 
as  a  colt  by  its  mother's  side,  and  suffered  Shibli  Bagarag 
to  bestride  him,  and  spurn  him  with  his  heel  to  speed,  and 
bore  him  fleetly  across  the  fair  length  of  the  golden  meadows 
to  where  Noorna  bin  Noorka  sat  awaiting  him.  She  uttered 
a  cry  of  welcome,  sa>ing,  'This  is  achieved  with  diligence 
and  skill,  O  my  betrothed!  and  on  thy  right  wrist  I  mark 
strength  like  a  sleeping  leopard,  and  the  children  of  Aklis 
will  not  resist  thee.' 

So  she  bade  him  alight  from  the  Horse,  but  he  said, 
'Nay.'  And  she  called  to  him  again  to  alight,  but  he 
cried,  'I  will  not  alight  from  him!  By  Allah!  such  a 
bounding  wave  of  bliss  have  I  never  yet  had  beneath 
me,  and  I  will  give  him  rein  once  again;  as  the  poet  says: 

"Divinely  rings  the  rushing  air 
When  I  am  on  my  mettled  mare: 
Wlien  fast  along  the  plains  we  fly, 
A  creature  of  the  heavens  am  I." ' 

Then  she  levelled  her  brows  at  him,  and  said  gravely, 
'This  is  the  temptation  thou  art  falling  into,  as  have 
thousands  before  thy  time.  Give  him  the  rein  a  second 
time,  and  he  will  bear  thee  to  the  red  pit,  and  halt  upon 
the  brink,  and  pitch  thee  into  it  among  bleeding  masses 
and  skeletons  of  thy  kind,  where  they  lie  who  were  men  like 
to  thee,  and  were  borne  away  by  the  Horse  Garraveen.' 

He  gave  no  heed  to  her  words,  taunting  her,  and  making 
the  animal  prance  up  and  prove  its  spirit. 

And  she  cried  reproachfully,  '0  fool!  is  it  thus  our 
great  aim  will  be  defeated  by  thy  silly  conceit  ?    Lo,  now. 


THE  HORSE  GARRAVEEN  135 

the  greatness  and  the  happiness  thou  art  losing  for  this 
idle  vanity  is  to  be  as  a  dunghill  cock  matched  with  an 
ostrich;  and  think  not  to  escape  the  calamities  thou 
bringest  on  thyself,  for  as  is  said, 

No  runner  can  outstrip  his  fate; 

and  it  will  overtake  thee,  though  thou  part  like  an  arrow 
from  the  bow. ' 

He  still  made  a  jest  of  her  remonstrance,  tr3dng  the 
temper  of  the  animal,  and  rejoicing  in  its  dark  flushes  of 
ireful  vigour. 

And  she  cried  out  furiously,  'How!  art  thou  past  coun- 
sel? then  will  we  match  strength  with  strength  ere  'tis 
too  late,  though  it  weaken  both.' 

Upon  that,  she  turned  quickly  to  the  Ass  and  stroked 
it  from  one  extremity  to  the  other,  crying,  '  Karaz !  Karaz ! ' 
shouting,  'Come  forth  in  thy  power!'  And  the  Ass  van- 
ished, and  the  Genie  stood  in  his  place,  tall,  dark,  terrible 
as  a  pillar  of  storm  to  travellers  ranging  the  desert.  He 
exclaimed,  'What  is  it,  0  woman?  Charge  me  with  thy 
command!' 

And  she  said,  'Wrestle  with  him  thou  seest  on  the 
Horse  Garraveen,  and  fling  him  from  his  seat.' 

Then  he  yelled  a  glad  yell,  and  stooped  to  Shibli  Baga- 
rag  on  the  horse  and  enveloped  him,  and  seized  him,  and 
plucked  him  from  the  Horse,  and  whirled  him  round, 
and  flung  him  off.  The  youth  went  circling  in  the  air, 
high  in  it,  and  descended,  circling,  at  a  distance  in  the 
deep  meadow- waters.  ^Vhen  he  crept  up  the  banks  he  saw 
the  Genie  astride  the  Horse  Garraveen,  with  a  black  flame 
round  his  head;  and  the  Genie  urged  him  to  speed  and  put 
him  to  the  gallop,  and  was  soon  lost  to  sight,  as  he  had  been 
a  thunderbeam  passing  over  a  still  lake  at  midnight.  And 
Shibli  Bagarag  was  smitten  with  the  wrong  and  the  folly 
of  his  act,  and  sought  to  hide  his  sight  from  Noorna;  but 


136  THE  SHAVING  OF  SH^VGPAT 

she  called  to  him,  '  Look  up,  0  youth!  and  face  the  calam- 
ity. Lo,  we  have  now  lost  the  service  of  Karaz !  for  though 
I  utter  ten  spells  and  one  spell  in  a  breath,  the  Horse 
Garraveen  will  ere  that  have  stretched  beyond  the  circle 
of  my  magic,  and  the  Genie  will  be  free  to  do  his  ill  deeds 
and  plot  against  us.  Sad  is  it!  but  profit  thou  by  a 
knowledge  of  thy  weakness.' 

Then  said  she,  'See,  I  have  not  failed  to  possess  myself 
of  the  three  hairs  of  Garraveen,  and  there  is  that  to  rejoice 
in.' 

She  displayed  them,  and  they  were  sapphire  hairs,  and 
had  a  flickering  light;  and  they  seemed  to  live,  wriggling 
their  lengths,  and  were  as  snakes  with  sapphire  skins. 
Then  she  said,  '  Thy  right  wrist,  0  my  betrothed ! ' 

He  gave  her  his  right  wrist,  and  she  tied  round  it  the 
three  hairs  of  Garraveen,  exclaiming,  'Thus  do  skilful 
carjDcnters  make  stronger  what  has  broken  and  intlicatcd 
disaster.  Surely,  I  confide  in  thy  star?  I  have  faith  in 
my  foresight?' 

And  she  cried,  'Eyes  of  mine,  what  sayest  thou  to 
me?    Lo,  we  must  part  awhile:  it  is  written.' 

Said  he,  'Leave  me  not,  my  betrothed:  what  am  I 
without  thy  counsel?  And  go  not  from  me,  or  this  ad- 
venture will  come  to  miserable  issue.' 

So  she  said,  '  Thou  begiimcst  to  feel  my  worth  ? ' 

He  answered,  '0  Noorna!  was  woman  like  thee  before 
in  this  world?  Surely  'tis  a  mask  I  mark  thee  under; 
yet  art  thou  perforce  of  sheer  wisdom  and  sweet  manners 
lovely  in  my  sight;  and  I  have  a  thirst  to  hear  thee  and 
look  on  thee.' 

While  he  spake,  a  beam  of  struggling  splendour  burst 
from  her,  and  .she  said,  'O  thou  dear  youth,  yes!  I  must 
even  go.  But  I  go  glad  of  heart,  knowing  thee  prepared 
to  love  me.  I  must  go  to  counteract  the  machinatioas 
of  Karaz,  for  he  's  at  once  busy,  vindictive^  and  cunning, 


THE  HORSE  GARRAVEEN  137 

and  there  's  no  time  for  us  to  lose;  so  farewell,  my  be- 
trothed, and  make  thy  wits  keen  to  know  me  when  we 
next  meet.' 

So  he  said,  'And  I — whither  go  I?' 

She  answered,  'To  the  City  of  Oolb  straightway/ 

Then  he,  'But  I  know  not  its  bearing  from  this  spot: 
how  reach  it  ? ' 

She  answered,  'WTiat!  thou  with  the  phial  of  Para\dd 
in  thy  vest,  that  endoweth,  a  single  drop  of  it,  the  flowers, 
the  herbage,  the  very  stones  and  desert  sands,  with  a 
tongue  to  articulate  intelligible  talk?' 

Said  he,  '  Is  it  so  ? ' 

She  answered,  'Even  so.' 

Ere  Shibli  Bagarag  could  question  her  further  she 
embraced  him,  and  blew  upon  his  eyes,  and  he  was  blinded 
by  her  breath,  and  saw  not  her  departure,  groping  for  a 
seat  on  the  rocks,  and  thinking  her  still  by  him.  Sight 
returned  not  to  him  till  long  after  weariness  had  brought 
the  balm  of  sleep  upon  his  eyelids. 


138  THE  SHAVING  OF  SILVGPAT 


THE  TALKING   HAWK 

Now,  when  he  awoke  he  found  himself  alone  in  that 
place,  the  moon  shining  over  the  low  meadows  and  flower- 
cups  fair  with  night-dew.  Odours  of  night-flowers  were 
abroad,  filling  the  cool  air  with  dcliciousness,  and  he 
heard  in  the  gardens  below  songs  of  the  bulbul:  it  was 
like  a  dream  to  his  soul,  and  he  lay  somewhile  contempla- 
ting the  rich  loveliness  of  the  scene,  that  showed  no  mo- 
ving thing.  Then  rose  he  and  bethought  him  of  the  words 
of  Noorna,  and  of  the  City  of  Oolb,  and  the  phial  of  the 
waters  of  Paravid  in  his  vest;  and  he  drew  it  forth,  and 
dropped  a  drop  of  it  on  the  rock  where  he  had  reclined. 
A  deep  harmony  seemed  suddenly  to  awake  inside  the  rock, 
and  to  his  interrogation  as  to  the  direction  of  Oolb,  he 
heard,  'The  path  of  the  shadows  of  the  moon.' 

Thereupon  he  advanced  to  a  prominent  part  of  the 
rocks  above  the  meadows,  and  beheld  the  shadows  of  the 
moon  thrown  forward  into  dimness  across  a  waste  of  sand. 
And  he  stepped  downward  to  the  level  of  sand,  and  went 
the  way  of  the  shadows  till  it  was  dawn.  Then  dropped 
he  a  drop  of  the  waters  of  the  phial  on  a  spike  of  lav- 
ender, and  there  was  a  voice  said  to  him  in  reply  to 
what  he  questioned,  'The  path  of  the  shadows  of  the 
sun.' 

The  shadows  of  the  sun  were  thrown  forward  across 
the  same  waste  of  sand,  and  he  turned  and  pursued  his 
way,  resting  at  noon  beneath  a  date-tree,  and  refreshing 


THE  TALKING  HAWK  139 

himself  at  a  clear  spring  beside  it.    Surely  he  was  joyful 
as  he  went,  and  elated  with  high  prospects,  singing: 

Sun  and  moon  with  their  bright  fingers 

Point  the  hero's  path; 
If  in  his  great  work  he  lingers, 

Well  may  they  be  wroth. 

Now,  the  extent  of  the  duration  of  his  travel  was  four 
days  and  an  equal  number  of  nights ;  and  it  was  on  the  fifth 
morn  that  he  entered  the  gates  of  a  city  by  the  sea,  even 
at  that  hour  when  the  inhabitants  were  rising  from  sleep: 
fair  was  the  sea  beyond  it,  and  the  harbour  was  crowded 
with  vessels,  ships  stored  with  merchandise — silks,  dates, 
diamonds,  Damascus  steel,  huge  bales  piled  on  the  decks 
for  the  land  of  Roum  and  other  lands.  Shibli  Bagarag 
thought,  'There's  scarce  a  doubt  but  that  one  of  those 
sails  will  set  for  Oolb  shortly.  Wullahy!  if  I  knew  which, 
I  'd  board  her  and  win  a  berth  in  her.'  Presently  he  thought, 
'  I  '11  go  to  the  public  fountain  and  question  it  with  the 
speech.- winning  waters.'  Thereupon  he  passed  down 
the  streets  of  the  city  and  came  to  an  open  space,  where 
stood  the  fountain,  and  sprinkled  it  with  Paravid;  and 
the  fountain  spake,  saying,  'Where  men  are,  question 
not  dumb  things.' 

Cried  he,  'Faileth  Para\id  in  its  power?  Have  I  done 
aught  to  baffle  myself?' 

Then  he  thought,  "Twere  nevertheless  well  to  do  as 
the  fountain  directeth,  and  question  men  while  I  see 
them.'  And  he  walked  about  among  the  people,  and 
came  to  the  quays  of  the  harbour  where  the  ships  lay 
close  in,  many  of  them  an  easy  leap  from  shore,  and  con- 
sidered whom  to  address.  So,  as  he  loitered  about  the 
quays,  meditating  on  the  means  at  the  disposal  of  the 
All- Wise,  and  marking  the  vessels  wistfully,  behold,  there 
advanced  to  him  one  at  a  quick  pace,  in  the  garb  of  a 


140  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

sailor.  Ho  observed  Shibli  Bagarag  attentively  a  moment, 
and  exclaimed  as  it  were  in  the  plenitude  of  r(\spect  aiid 
with  the  maimer  of  one  that  is  abashed,  '  Surely,  thou  art 
Sliibli  Bagarag,  the  nephew  of  the  barber,  him  we  watch  for.' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  marvelled  at  this  i-ecogiiition,  and 
answered,  'Am  I  then  already  famous  to  that  extent?' 

And  he  that  accosted  him  said,  '  'Tis  certain  the  trumpet 
was  blown  before  thy  steps,  and  there  is  not  a  man  in 
this  city  but  knoweth  of  thy  destination  to  the  City  of 
Oolb,  and  that  thou  art  upon  the  track  of  great  things, 
one  chosen  to  bring  about  imminent  changes.' 

TJien  said  Shibli  Bagarag,  'For  this  I  praise  Noorna 
bin  NoorJca,  daughter  of  Feshnavat,  Vizier  of  the  Kng 
that  ruleth  in  the  city  of  Shagpat!  She  saw  me,  that 
I  was  marked  for  greatness.  Wullahy,  the  eagle  kiioweth 
me  from  afar,  and  proclaimeth  me;  the  antelope  of  the 
hiUs  scenteth  the  coming  of  one  not  as  other  men,  and 
telleth  his  tidings;  the  wind  of  the  desert  shapeth  its  gust  to 
a  meaning,  so  that  the  stranger  may  wot  Shibli  Bagarag 
is  at  hand ! ' 

He  puffed  his  chest,  and  straightened  his  legs  like  the 
cock,  and  was  as  a  man  upon  whom  the  Sultan  has  be- 
stowed a  dress  of  honour,  even  as  the  plumed  peacock. 
Then  the  other  said : 

'Know  that  I  am  captain  of  yonder  vessel,  that  stands 
farthest  out  from  the  harbour  with  her  sails  slackened; 
and  she  is  laden  with  figs  and  fruits  which  I  exchange 
for  sUks,  spices,  and  other  merchandise,  with  the  people 
of  Oolb.     Now,  what  says  the  poet  ? — 

"Delay  in  thine  undertaking 
Is  disaster  of  thy  own  making"; 

and  he  says  also : 

"Greatness  is  solely  for  them  that  succeed; 
'Tis  a  rotten  applause  that  gives  earlier  meed.'" 


THE  TALKING  HAWK  141 

Therefore  it  is  advisable  for  thee  to  follow  me  on  board 
without  loss  of  time,  and  we  will  sail  this  very  night  for 
the  City  of  Oolb.' 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  was  ruled  by  the  words  of  the 
captain  albeit  he  desired  to  stay  awhile  and  receive  the 
homage  of  the  people  of  that  city.  So  he  followed  him 
into  a  boat  that  was  by,  and  the  twain  were  rowed  by 
sailors  to  the  ship.  Then,  when  they  were  aboard  the 
captain  set  sail,  and  they  were  soon  in  the  hollows  of  deep 
waters.  There  was  a  berth  in  the  ship  set  apart  for  Shibli 
Bagarag,  and  one  for  the  captain.  Shibli  Bagarag,  when  he 
entered  his  berth,  beheld  at  the  head  of  his  couch  a  hawk; 
its  eyes  red  as  rubies,  its  beak  sharp  as  the  curve  of  a 
scimitar.  So  he  called  out  to  the  captain,  and  the  captain 
came  to  him;  but  when  he  saw  the  hawk,  he  plucked  his 
turban  from  his  head,  and  dashed  it  at  the  hawk,  and 
afterv^^ard  ran  to  it,  trying  to  catch  it;  and  the  hawk 
flitted  from  corner  to  corner  of  the  berth,  he  after  it  with 
open  arms.  Then  he  took  a  sword,  but  the  hawk  flew  past 
him,  and  fixed  on  the  back  part  of  his  head,  tearing  up  his 
hair  by  the  talons,  and  pecking  over  his  forehead  at  his  eyes. 
And  Shibli  Bagarag  heard  the  hawk  scream  the  name 
'Karaz,'  and  he  looked  closely  at  the  Captain  of  the 
vessel,  and  knew  him  for  the  Genie  Karaz.  Then  trembled 
he  with  exceeding  terror,  cursing  his  credulities,  for  he 
saw  himself  in  the  hands  of  the  Genie,  and  nothing  but 
this  hawk  friendly  to  him  on  the  fearful  waters.  When 
the  hawk  had  torn  up  a  certain  hair,  the  Genie  stiffened, 
and  glowed  like  copper  in  the  furnace,  the  whole  length 
of  him;  and  he  descended  heavily  through  the  bottom 
of  the  ship,  and  sank  into  the  waters  beneath,  which  hissed 
and  smoked  as  at  a  bar  of  heated  iron.  Then  Shibli  Bag- 
arag gave  thanks  to  the  Prophet,  and  praised  the  hawk, 
but  the  hawk  darted  out  of  the  cabin,  and  he  followed  it  on 
deck,  and,  lo !  the  vessel  was  in  flames,  and  the  hawk  in  a 


142  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

circle  of  the  flames;  and  the  flames  soared  with  it,  and  left 
it  no  outlet.  Now,  as  Shibli  Bagarag  watched  the  hawk, 
the  flames  stretched  out  towards  him  and  took  hold  of 
his  vestments.  So  he  delayed  not  to  commend  his  soul  to 
the  All-merciful,  and  bore  witness  to  his  faith,  and  plunged 
into  the  sea  headlong.  When  he  rose,  the  ship  had  vanished, 
and  all  was  darkness  where  it  had  been;  so  he  bufi"eted 
with  the  billows,  thinking  his  last  hour  had  come,  and 
there  was  no  help  for  him  in  this  world;  and  the  spray 
shaken  from  the  billows  blinded  him,  the  great  walls  of 
water  crumbled  over  him;  strength  failed  him,  and  his 
memory  ceased  to  picture  images  of  the  old  time — his 
heart  to  beat  with  ambition;  and  to  keep  the  weight  of 
his  head  above  the  surface  was  becoming  a  thing  worth 
the  ransom  of  kings.  As  he  was  sinking  and  turning 
his  eyes  upward,  he  heard  a  flutter  as  of  fledgling's  wings, 
and  the  two  red  ruby  eyes  of  the  hawk  were  visible  above 
him,  like  steady  fires  in  the  gloom.  And  the  hawk  perched 
on  him,  and  buried  itself  among  the  wet  hairs  of  his  head, 
and  presently  taking  the  Identical  in  its  beak,  the  hawk 
lifted  him  half  out  of  water,  and  bore  him  a  distance,  and 
dropped  him.  This  the  hawk  did  many  times,  and  at  the 
last,  Shibli  Bagarag  felt  land  beneath  him,  and  could  wade 
through  the  surges  to  the  shore.  He  gave  thanks  to  the 
Supreme  Disposer,  kneeling  prostrate  on  the  shore,  and  fell 
into  a  sleep  deep  in  peacefulness  as  a  fathomless  well,  un- 
ruffled by  a  breath. 

Now,  when  it  was  dawn  Shibli  Bagarag  awoke  and 
looked  inland,  and  saw  i)lainly  the  minarets  of  a  city 
shining  in  the  first  beams,  and  the  front  of  yellow  moun- 
tains, and  people  moving  about  the  walls  and  on  the 
towers  and  among  the  pastures  round  the  city;  so  he 
made  toward  them,  and  incjuired  of  them  the  name  of 
their  city.  And  they  stared  at  him,  crying,  'What! 
know'st  thou  not  the  City  of  Oolb?     the  hawk  on  thy 


THE  TALKING  HAWK  143 

shoulder  could  tell  thee  that  much.'  He  looked  and 
saw  that  the  hawk  was  on  his  shoulder;  and  its  left  wing 
was  scorched,  the  plumage  blackened.  So  he  said  to  the 
hawk,  'Is  it  profitable,  O  preserving  bird,  to  ask  of  thee 
questions  ? ' 

The  hawk  shook  its  wings  and  closed  an  eye. 

So  he  said,  '  Do  I  well  in  entering  this  city  ? ' 

The  hawk  shook  its  wings  again  and  closed  an  eye. 

So  he  said,  'To  what  house  shall  I  direct  my  steps  in 
this  strange  city  for  the  attainment  of  the  purpose  I  have  ? ' 

The  hawk  flew,  and  soared,  and  alighted  on  the  top- 
most of  the  towers  of  Oolb.  So  when  it  returned  he  said, 
'0  bird!  rare  bird!  my  counsellor!  it  is  an  indication, 
this  alighting  on  the  highest  tower,  that  thou  advisest 
me  to  go  straight  to  the  palace  of  the  King  ? ' 

The  hawk  flapped  its  wings  and  winked  both  eyes; 
so  Sliibh  Bagarag  took  forth  the  phial  from  his  breast, 
remembering  the  virtues  of  the  waters  of  the  Well  of 
Paravid,  and  touched  his  lips  with  them,  that  he  might 
be  endowed  with  flowing  speech  before  the  King  of  Oolb. 
As  he  did  this  the  phial  was  open,  and  the  hawk  leaned 
to  it  and  dipped  its  beak  into  the  water;  and  he  entered 
the  city  and  passed  through  the  long  streets  towards  the 
palace  of  the  King,  and  craved  audience  of  him  as  one 
that  had  a  thing  marvellous  to  tell.  So  the  King  com- 
manded that  Shibli  Bagarag  should  be  brought  before 
him,  for  he  was  a  lover  of  marvels.  As  he  went  into  the 
presence  of  the  King,  Shibli  Bagarag  listened  to  the  hawk, 
for  the  hawk  spake  his  language,  and  it  said,  'Proclaim 
to  the  King  a  new  wonder — "the  talking  hawk.'" 

So  when  he  had  bent  his  body  to  the  King,  he  pro- 
claimed the  new  wonder;  and  the  King  seemed  not  to 
observe  the  hawk,  and  said,  'From  what  city  art  thou?' 

He  answered,  'Native,  0  King,  to  Shiraz;  newly  from 
the  City  of  Shagpat.' 


144  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

And  the  King  asked,  'How  is  it  with  that  hairy  won- 
der?' 

He  answered,  'The  dark  forest  flourisheth  about  him.' 

And  the  Kng  said,  'That  is  well!  We  of  the  City 
of  Oolb  take  our  fashions  from  them  of  the  City  of  Shag- 
pat,  and  it  is  but  yesterday  that  I  bastinadoed  a  barber 
that  strayed  among  us.' 

Shibli  Bagarag  sighed  when  he  heard  the  King,  and 
thought  to  himself,  'How  unfortunate  is  the  race  of 
barbers,  once  honourable  and  in  esteem!  Surely  it  will 
not  be  otherwise  till  Shagpat  is  shaved!'  And  the  King 
called  out  to  him  for  the  cause  of  his  sighing;  so  he  said, 
'I  sigh,  0  King  of  the  age,  considering  how  like  may 
be  the  case  of  the  barber  bastinadoed  but  yesterday,  in 
his  worth  and  value,  to  that  of  Roomdroom,  the  reader  of 
planets,  that  was  a  barber.' 

And  he  related  the  story  of  Roomdroom  for  the  edifi- 
cation of  the  King  and  the  exaltation  of  barbercraft, 
delivering  himself  neatly  and  winnLngly  and  pointedly, 
so  that  the  story  should  apply,  which  was  its  merit  and 
its  origin. 


GOORELKA  OF  OOLB  145 


GOORELKA   OF  OOLB 

When  Shibli  Bagarag  had  finished  his  narration  of  the 
case  of  Roomdroom  the  barber,  the  King  of  Oolb  said, 
'0  thou,  native  of  Shiraz,  there  is  persuasion  and  sweet- 
ness and  fascination  on  thy  tongue,  and  I  am  touched 
with  compassion  for  the  soles  of  Baba  Mustapha,  that 
I  bastinadoed  but  yesterday,  and  he  was  from  Shiraz 
likewise.' 

Now,  the  heart  of  Shibli  Bagarag  leapt  when  he  heard 
mention  of  Baba  Mustapha;  and  he  knew  him  for  his 
uncle  that  was  searching  him.  He  would  have  cried 
aloud  his  relationship,  but  the  hawk  whispered  in  his 
ear.  Then  the  hawk  said  to  him,  'There  is  danger  in 
the  King's  muteness  respecting  me,  for  I  am  visible  to 
him.     Proclaim  the  spirit  of  prophecy.' 

So  he  proclaimed  that  spirit,  and  the  King  said,  'Proph- 
esy to  me  of  barbercraft.' 

And  he  cried,  '  0  King  of  the  age,  the  barber  is  abased, 
trodden  underfoot,  given  over  to  the  sneers  and  the  gibes 
of  them  that  flatter  the  powerful  ones;  he  is  as  the  winter 
worm,  as  the  crocodile  in  the  slime  of  his  sleep  by  the 
bank,  as  the  sick  eagle  before  moulting.  But  I  say,  0  King, 
that  he  will  come  forth  like  the  serpent  in  a  new  skin, 
shaming  the  old  one;  he  slept  a  caterpillar,  and  will  come 
forth  a  butterfly;  he  sank  a  star,  and  lo!  he  riseth  a  con- 
stellation.' 

Now,  while  he  was  speaking  in  the  fervour  of  his  soul, 
the  King  said  something  to  one  of  the  court  ofiScers  sur- 
rounding him,  and  there  was  brought  to  the  King  a  basin, 


146  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

a  soap-bowl,  and  barber's  tackle.  When  Shibli  Bagarag 
saw  these,  the  uses  of  the  barber  rushed  upon  his  mind,  and 
desire  to  sway  the  tackle  pushed  him  forward  and  agi- 
tated him,  so  that  he  could  not  keep  his  hands  from  them. 

Then  the  King  exclaimed,  'It  is  as  I  thought.  Our 
passions  betray  themselves,  and  oiu-  habits;  so  is  it  written. 
By  Allah !  I  swear  thou  art  thyseK  none  other  than  a  bar- 
ber, 0  youth.' 

Shibli  Bagarag  was  nigh  fainting  with  terroFj  at  this 
discovery  of  the  King,  but  the  hawk  said  in  his  car,  *  Pro- 
claim speech  in  the  tackle.'  So  he  proclaimed  speech 
in  the  tackle;  and  the  King  smiled  doubtfully,  and  said, 
'  If  this  be  a  cheat,  Shiraz  wall  not  see  thy  face  more.' 

Then  the  hawk  whispered  in  his  ear,  'Drop  on  the 
tackle  secretly  a  drop  from  the  phial.'  This  he  did, 
spreading  his  garments,  and  commanded  the  tackle  to 
speak.  And  the  tackle  spake,  each  portion  of  it,  con- 
fusedly as  the  noise  of  Babel.  So  the  King  marvelled 
greatly,  and  said,  "Tis  a  greater  wonder  than  the  talk- 
ing hawk,  the  talking  tackle.  WuUahy!  it  ennobleth 
barbercraft!  Yet  it  were  well  to  comprehend  the  saying 
of  the  tackle.' 

Then  the  hawk  flew  to  the  tackle  and  fluttered  about 
it,  and  lo!  the  blade  and  the  brush  stood  up  and  said 
in  a  shrill  tone,  'It  is  ordained  that  Shagi3at  shall  be 
shaved,  and  that  Shibli  Bagarag  shall  shave  him.' 

The  King  bit  the  forefinger  of  amazement,  and  said, 
'  What  then  ensueth,  0  talking  tackle  ? ' 

And  the  brush  and  the  blade  stood  up,  and  said  in  a 
shrill  tone,  'Honour  to  Shibli  Bagarag  and  barbers! 
Shame  unto  Shagj)at  and  his  follows!' 

Ul)on  that,  the  King  cried,  'Enough,  O  talking  tackle; 
I  will  forestall  the  coming  tlnng.  I  will  be  shaved!  wullahy, 
that  will  I!' 

Then  the  hawk  whispered  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  'Forward 


GOORELKA   OF   OOLB  147 

and  shear  him!'  So  he  stepped  forth  and  seized  the 
tackle,  and  addressed  himself  keenly  to  the  .shaving  of 
the  King  of  Oolb,  lathering  him  and  performing  his  task 
with  perfect  skill.  And  the  courtiers  crowded  to  follow 
the  example  of  the  King,  and  ShibH  Bagarag  shaved  them, 
all  of  them.  Now,  when  they  were  shaved,  fear  smote 
them,  the  fear  of  ridicule,  and  each  laughed  at  the  change 
that  was  in  the  other;  but  the  King  cried,  'See  that  order  is 
issued  for  the  people  of  Oolb  to  be  as  we  before  to-morrow's 
sun.  So  is  laughter  taken  in  reverse.'  And  the  King  said 
aside  to  ShibU  Bagarag,  '  Say  now,  what  may  be  thy  price 
for  yonder  hawk  ? ' 

And  the  hawk  bade  him  say,  'The  loan  of  thy  cockle- 
sheU.' 

The  King  mused,  and  said,  'That  is  much  to  ask,  for 
it  is  that  v/hich  beareth  the  Princess  my  daughter  to 
the  Lily  of  the  Enchanted  Sea,  which  she  nourisheth; 
and  if  'tis  harmed,  she  will  be  stricken  with  ugliness, 
as  was  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  who  tended 
it  before  her.  Yet  is  this  hawk  a  bird  of  price.  What 
be  its  qualities,  besides  the  gift  of  speech  ? ' 

Shibli  Bagarag  answered,  'To  counsel  in  extremity; 
to  forewarn;  to  counteract  enchantments  and  foul  magic' 

Upon  that  the  King  said,  'Follow  me!' 

And  the  ffing  led  the  way  from  the  hall,  through  many 
spacious  chambers  fair  with  mirrors  and  silks  and  precious 
woods,  and  smooth  marble  floors,  down  into  a  vault  Ut  by 
a  lamp  that  was  shaped  like  an  eye.  Round  the  vault  were 
hung  helm-pieces,  and  swords,  and  rich-studded  housings; 
and  there  were  silken  dresses,  and  costly  shawls,  and  tall 
vases  and  jars  of  China,  tapestries,  and  gold  services.  And 
the  King  said,  'Take  thy  choice  of  these  in  exchange 
for  the  hawk.' 

But  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  'Nought  save  a  loan  of  the 
cockle-shell,  0  King!' 


148  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Then  tlie  King  threatened  him,  sajing,  'There  is  a 
virtue  in  each  of  the  things  thou  seest:  the  China  jar  is 
brimmed  with  wine,  and  remaineth  so  tliough  a  thousand 
drink  of  it;  the  dress  of  Samarcand  rendereth  the  wearer 
invisible;  yet  thou  refuscst  to  exchange  them  for  thy 
hawk!' 

And  tlie  Kng  swore  by  the  beard  of  his  father  he  would 
seize  perforce  the  hawk  and  shut  up  Shibli  Bagarag  in 
the  vault,  if  he  fell  not  into  his  bargain.  Shibli  Bagarag 
was  advised  by  the  hawk  to  accept  the  China  jar  and  the 
dress  of  Samarcand,  and  handed  the  hawk  to  the  King  in 
exchange  for  these  things.  So  the  Kng  took  the  hawk 
ujwn  his  wrist  and  departed  with  it  to  the  apartments  of 
his  daughter,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  went  to  the  chamber  pre- 
pared for  him  in  the  palace. 

Now,  w^hen  it  was  night,  Shibli  Bagarag  heard  a  noise 
at  his  lattice,  and  he  arose  and  peered  through  it,  and  lo! 
the  hawk  was  fluttering  without;  so  he  let  it  in,  and  caressed 
it,  and  the  hawk  bade  him  put  on  his  silken  dress  and 
carry  forth  his  China  jar,  and  go  the  round  of  the  palace, 
and  offer  drink  to  the  sentinels  and  the  slaves.  So  he 
did  as  the  hawk  directed,  and  the  sentinels  and  slaves 
were  aware  of  a  China  jar  brimmed  with  wine  that  was 
lifted  to  their  lips,  but  him  that  lifted  it  they  saw^  not: 
surely,  they  drank  deep  of  the  draught  of  astonishment. 

Then  the  hawk  flew  before  him,  and  he  followed  it 
to  a  chamber  lit  with  golden  lamps,  gorgeously  hung, 
and  full  of  a  dusky  splendour  and  the  faint  sparkle  of 
gems,  ruby,  amethyst,  topaz,  and  l)eryl;  in  it  there  was 
the  hush  of  sleep,  and  the  heart  of  Shibli  Bagarag  told 
him  that  one  beautiful  was  near.  So  he  approached  on 
tij)toe  a  couch  of  blue  silk,  bordered  with  gold-wire,  and 
inwoven  with  stars  of  blue  turquoise  stones,  as  it  had 
been  the  heavens  of  midnight.  On  the  couch  lay  one, 
a  woman,  pure  in  loveliness;  the  dark  fringes  of  her  closed 


GOORELICA  OF  OOLB  149 

lids  like  living  flashes  of  darkness,  her  mouth  like  an  un- 
strung bow  and  as  a  double  rosebud,  even  as  two  isles 
of  coral  between  which  in  the  clear  transparent  watery 
beds  the  pearls  shine  freshly. 

And  the  hawk  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  'This  is  the 
Princess  Goorelka,  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Oolb, 
a  sorceress,  the  Guardian  of  the  Lily  of  the  Enchanted 
Sea.  Beneath  her  pillow  is  the  cockle-shell;  grasp  it, 
but  gaze  not  upon  her.' 

He  approached  and  sHd  his  arm  beneath  the  pillow 
of  the  Princess,  and  grasped  the  cockle-shell;  but  ere 
he  drew  it  forth  he  gazed  upon  her,  and  the  lustre  of  her 
countenance  transfixed  him  as  with  a  javelin,  so  that  he 
could  not  stir,  nor  move  his  eyes  from  the  contemplation 
of  her  sweetness  of  feature.  The  hawk  darted  at  him 
fiercely,  and  pecked  at  him  to  draw  his  attention  from 
her,  and  he  stepped  back,  yet  he  continued  taking  fatal 
draughts  from  the  magic  cup  of  her  beauty.  Then  the 
hawk  screamed  a  loud  scream  of  anguish,  and  the  Princess 
awoke,  and  started  half-way  from  the  couch,  and  stared 
about  her,  and  saw  the  bird  in  agitation.  As  she  looked 
at  the  bird  a  shudder  passed  over  her,  and  she  snatched 
a  veil  and  drew  it  over  her  face,  murmuring,  'I  dream, 
or  I  am  under  the  eye  of  a  man.'  Then  she  felt  beneath 
the  pillow,  and  knew  that  the  cockle-shell  had  been  touched; 
and  in  a  moment  she  leapt  from  her  couch,  and  ran  to 
a  mirror  and  saw  herself  as  she  was,  a  full-moon  made 
to  snare  the  wariest  and  sit  singly  high  on  a  throne  in  the 
hearts  of  men.  At  the  sight  of  her  beauty  she  smiled 
and  seemed  at  peace,  murmuring  still,  'I  am  under  the 
eye  of  a  man,  or  I  dream.'  Now,  while  she  so  murmured 
she  arrayed  herself,  and  took  the  cockle-shell,  and  passed 
through  the  ante-room  among  her  women  sleeping;  and 
Shibli  Bagarag  tracked  her  till  she  came  to  the  vault ;  and 
she  entered  it  and  walked  to  the  corner  from  which  had 


150  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

himg  the  dress  of  Saniarcand.  When  she  saw  it  gone  her 
face  waxed  pale,  and  she  gazed  slowly  at  all  points,  mut- 
tering, 'There  is  no  further  doubt  but  that  I  am  under 
the  eye  of  a  man!'  Thereupon  she  ran  hastily  from  the 
vault,  and  passed  between  the  sentinels  of  the  palace, 
and  saw  them  where  they  lay  drowsy  with  intoxication: 
so  she  knew  that  the  China  jar  and  the  dress  of  Saniarcand 
had  been  used  that  night,  and  for  no  purpose  friendly  to  her 
wishes.  Then  she  passed  down  the  palace  steps,  and 
through  the  gates  of  the  palace  and  the  city,  till  she  came 
to  the  shore  of  the  sea;  there  she  launched  the  cockle-shell 
and  took  the  wind  in  her  garments,  and  sat  in  it,  filling  it 
to  overflowing,  yet  it  floated.  And  Shibli  Bagarag  waded  to 
the  cockle-shell  and  took  hold  of  it,  and  was  drawn  along 
by  its  motion  swiftly  through  the  waters,  so  that  a  foam 
swept  after  him;  and  Goorelka  marked  the  foam.  Now, 
they  had  passage  over  the  billows  smoothly,  and  soon  the 
length  of  the  sea  was  darkened  with  two  high  rocks,  and 
between  them  there  was  a  narrow  channel  of  the  sea, 
roughened  with  moonlight.  So  they  sped  between  the  rocks, 
and  came  upon  a  purple  sea,  dark-blue  overhead,  with 
large  stars  leaning  to  the  waves.  There  was  a  soft  whisper- 
ingness  in  the  breath  of  the  breezes  that  swung  there, 
and  many  sails  of  charmed  ships  were  seen  in  momentary 
gleams,  flapping  the  mast  idly  far  away.  Warm  as  new 
milk  from  the  full  udders  were  the  waters  of  that  sea,  and 
figures  of  fair  women  stretched  lengthwise  with  the  current, 
and  lifted  a  head  as  they  rushed  rolling  by.  Truly  it  was 
enchanted  even  to  the  very  bed! 


THE  LILY  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SEA        151 


THE  LILY  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SEA 

Now,  after  the  cockle-shell  had  skimmed  calmly  awhile, 
it  began  to  pitch  and  grew  unquiet,  and  came  upon  a 
surging  foam,  pale,  and  with  scintillating  bubbles.  The 
surges  increased  in  volume,  and  boiled,  hissing  as  with 
anger,  like  savage  animals.  Presently,  the  cockle-shell 
rose  upon  one  very  lofty  swell,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  lost 
hold  of  it,  and  lo!  it  was  overturned  and  engulfed  in 
the  descent  of  the  great  mountain  of  water,  and  the  Prin- 
cess Goorelka  was  immersed  in  the  depths.  She  would 
have  sunk,  but  Shibli  Bagarag  caught  hold  of  her,  and 
supported  her  to  the  shore  by  the  strength  of  his  right 
arm.  The  shore  was  one  of  sand  and  shells,  their  wet 
cheeks  sparkling  in  the  moonlight;  over  it  hung  a  promon- 
tory, a  huge  jut  of  black  rock.  Now,  the  Princess  when 
she  landed,  seeing  not  him  that  supported  her,  delayed 
not  to  run  beneath  the  rock,  and  ascended  by  steps  cut 
from  the  base  of  the  rock.  And  Shibli  Bagarag  followed 
her  by  winding  paths  round  the  rock,  till  she  came  to 
the  highest  peak  commanding  the  circle  of  the  Enchanted 
Sea,  and  glimpses  of  enthralled  vessels,  and  mariners 
bewitched  on  board;  long  paths  of  starlight  rippled  into 
the  distant  gloom,  and  the  reflection  of  the  moon  opposite 
was  as  a  wide  nuptial  sheet  of  silver  on  the  waters:  islands, 
green  and  white,  and  with  soft  music  floating  from  their 
fohage,  sailed  slowly  to  and  fro.  Surely,  to  dwell  re- 
clining among  the  slopes  of  those  islands  a  man  would 
forfeit  Paradise!     Now,  the  Princess,  as  she  stood  upon 


152  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

the  peak,  know  that  she  was  not  alone,  and  pretended 
to  sHp  from  her  footing,  and  ShibU  Bagarag  called  out  and 
ran  to  her;  but  she  turned  in  the  direction  of  his  voice 
and  laughed,  and  he  knew  he  was  outwitted.  Then,  to 
deceive  her,  he  dropped  from  the  phial  twenty  drops  round 
her  on  the  rock,  and  those  twenty  drops  became  twenty 
voices,  so  that  she  was  bewildered  with  their  calls,  and 
stopped  her  ears,  and  ran  from  them,  and  descended  from 
the  eminence  nimbly,  slipping  over  ledges  and  leaping  the 
ab3'sses.  And  IShibli  Bagarag  followed  her,  clutching  at 
the  trailers  and  tearing  them  with  him,  letting  loose  a 
torrent  of  stones  and  earth,  till  on  a  sudden  they  stood 
together  above  a  greens  warded  basin  of  the  rock  opening 
to  the  sea;  and  in  the  middle  of  the  basin,  lo!  in  stature 
like  a  maiden  of  the  mountains,  and  one  that  droopcth 
her  head  pensively  thinking  of  her  absent  lover,  the  En- 
chanted Lily.  Wonder  knocked  at  the  breast  of  Shibli 
Bagarag  when  he  saw  that  queenly  flower  waving  its 
illumined  head  to  the  breeze:  he  could  not  retain  a  cry 
of  rapture.  As  he  did  this  the  Princess  stretched  her 
hand  to  where  he  was  and  groped  a  moment,  and  caught 
him  by  the  silken  dress  and  tore  in  it  a  great  rent,  and 
by  the  rent  he  stood  revealed  to  her.  Then  said  she, 
'0  youth,  thou  hast  done  ill  to  follow  me  here,  and  the 
danger  of  it  is  past  computing;  surely,  the  motive  was 
a  deep  one,  nought  other  than  the  love  of  me.' 

She  spoke  winningly,  sweet  words  to  a  luted  voice, 
and  the  youth  fell  upon  his  knees  before  her,  smitten 
by  her  beauty;  and  he  said,  'I  followed  thee  here  as  I 
would  follow  such  loveliness  to  the  gates  of  doom,  O 
Princess  of  Oolb.' 

She  smiled  and  said  playfully,  'I  will  read  by  thy 
hand  whether  thou  be  one  faithful  in  love.' 

She  took  his  hand  and  sj)rinkled  on  it  earth  and  gravel, 
and  commenced  scanning  it  curiously.    As  she  scanned  it 


THE  LILY  OF  THE  ENCHANTED   SEA     153 

her  forehead  wrinkled  up,  and  a  shot  Hke  black  lightning 
travelled  across  her  countenance,  withering  its  beauty: 
she  cried  in  a  forced  voice,  'Aha!  it  is  well,  0  youth,  for 
thee  and  for  me  that  thou  lovest  me,  and  art  faithful 
in  love.' 

The  look  of  the  Princess  of  Oolb  and  her  voice  affrighted 
the  soul  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  he  would  have  turned 
from  her;  but  she  held  him,  and  went  to  the  Lily,  and 
emptied  into  the  palm  of  her  hand  the  dew  that  was  in 
the  Lily,  and  raised  it  to  the  lips  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  bidding 
him  drink  as  a  pledge  for  her  sake  and  her  love,  and  to 
appease  his  thirst.  As  he  was  about  to  drink,  there  fell 
into  the  palm  of  the  Princess  from  above  what  seemed 
a  bolt  of  storm  scattering  the  dew;  and  after  he  had 
blinked  with  the  suddenness  of  the  action  he  looked  and 
beheld  the  hawk,  its  red  eyes  inflamed  with  wrath.  And 
the  hawk  screamed  into  the  ear  of  Shibli  Bagarag, '  Pluck  up 
the  Lily  ere  it  is  too  late,  O  fool! — the  dew  was  poison! 
Pluck  it  by  the  root  with  thy  right  hand!' 

So  thereat  he  strode  to  the  Lily,  and  grasped  it,  and 
pulled  with  his  strength;  and  the  Lily  was  loosened, 
and  yielded,  and  came  forth  streaming  with  blood  from 
the  bulb  of  the  root;  surely  the  bulb  of  the  root  was  a 
palpitating  heart,  yet  warm,  even  as  that  we  have  within 
our  bosoms. 

Now,  from  the  terror  of  that  sight  the  Princess  hid 
her  eyes,  and  shrank  away.  And  the  lines  of  malice, 
avarice,  and  envy  seemed  ageing  her  at  every  breath. 
Then  the  hawk  pecked  at  her  three  pecks,  and  perched 
on  a  corner  of  rock,  and  called  shrilly  the  name  '  Karaz ! ' 
And  the  Genie  Karaz  came  slanting  down  the  night  air, 
like  a  preying  bird,  and  stood  among  them.  So  the  hawk 
cried,  'See,  0  Karaz,  the  freshness  of  thy  Princess  af 
Oolb';  and  the  Genie  regarded  her  till  loathing  curled  his 
lip,  for  she  grew  in  ghastliness  to  the  colour  of  a  frog, 


154  THE  SHAVING  OF  SliAGPAT 

and  a  frog's  face  was  hers,  a  camel's  back,  a  pelican's 
throat,  the  legs  of  a  peacock. 

Then  the  hawk  cried,  'Is  this  how  ye  meet,  ye  lovers, 
— ye  that  will  be  wedded  ? '  And  the  hawk  made  his 
tongue  as  a  thorn  to  them.  At  the  last  it  exclaimed, 
'  Now  let  us  fight  our  battle,  0  Karaz ! ' 

But  the  Genie  said,  'Nay,  there  will  come  a  time  for 
that,  traitress!' 

The  hawk  cried,  'Thou  delayest,  till  the  phial  of  Para- 
vid,  the  hairs  of  Garraveen,  and  this  Lily,  my  three  helps, 
are  expended,  thinking  Aklis,  for  which  we  barter  them, 
striketh  but  a  single  blow  ?  That  is  well !  Go,  then,  and 
take  thy  Princess,  and  obtain  permission  of  the  King  of 
Oolb,  her  father,  to  wed  her,  O  Karaz!' 

The  hawk  whistled  with  laughter,  and  the  Genie  was 
stung  with  its  mockeries,  and  clutched  the  Princess  of 
Oolb  in  a  bunch,  and  arose  from  the  ground  with  her, 
slanting  up  the  night-air  like  fire,  till  he  was  seen  high 
up  even  as  an  angry  star  r(^dening  the  seas  beneath. 

When  he  was  lost  to  the  eye,  Shibli  Bagarag  drew  a 
long  breath  and  cried  aloud,  'The  likeness  of  that  Princess 
of  Oolb  in  her  ugliness  to  Noorna,  my  betrothed,  is  a 
thing  marvellous,  if  it  be  not  she  herself.'  And  he  re- 
flected, '  Yet  she  seemed  not  to  recognize  and  claim  me ' ; 
and  thought,  'I  am  bound  to  her  by  gratitude,  and  I 
should  have  rescued  her  from  Karaz,  but  I  know  not 
if  it  be  she.  Wullahy!  I  am  bewildered;  I  will  ask  counsel 
of  the  hawk. '  He  looked  to  the  corner  of  the  rock  where 
the  hawk  had  perched,  but  the  hawk  was  gone;  as  he 
searched  for  it,  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  bed  of  earth  where 
the  Lily  stood  ere  he  plucked  it,  and  lo!  in  the  place  of 
the  Lily,  there  was  a  damsel  dressed  in  white  shining 
silks,  fairer  than  the  enchanted  flower,  straightcr  than 
the  stalk  of  it;  her  head  slightly  drooping,  like  the  moon 
on  a  border  of  the  night;   her  bosom  like  the  swell  of  the 


THE  LILY  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SEA     155 

sea  in  moonlight;  her  eyes  dark,  under  a  low  arch  of  darker 
lashes,  Uke  stars  on  the  skirts  of  storm;  and  she  was  the 
very  dream  of  loveliness,  formed  to  freeze  with  awe,  and 
to  inflame  with  passion.  So  Shibli  Bagarag  gazed  at  her 
with  adoration,  his  hands  stretched  half-way  to  her  as  if 
to  clasp  her,  fearing  she  was  a  vision  and  would  fade; 
and  the  damsel  smiled  a  sweet  smile,  and  lifted  her  ante- 
lope eyes,  and  said,  'Who  am  I,  and  to  whom  might  I  be 
likened,  0  youth? ' 

And  he  answered,  'Who  thou  art,  0  young  perfection, 
I  know  not,  if  not  a  Houri  of  Paradise;  but  thou  art  like 
the  Princess  of  Oolb,  yet  lovelier,  oh  lovelier!  And  thy 
voice  is  the  voice  of  Nooma,  my  betrothed;  yet  purer, 
sweeter,  younger.' 

So  the  damsel  laughed  a  laugh  like  a  sudden  sweeping 
of  wild  chords  of  music,  and  said,  'O  youth,  saw'st  thou 
not  the  ascent  of  Noorna,  thy  betrothed,  gathered  in  a 
bunch  by  Karaz  ? ' 

And  he  answered,  'I  saw  her;  but  I  knew  not,  0  dam- 
sel of  beauty;  surely  I  was  bewildered,  amazed,  without 
power  to  contend  with  the  Genie.' 

Then  she  said,  '  Wouldst  thou  release  her  ?  So  kiss 
me  on  the  lips,  on  the  eyes,  and  on  the  forehead,  three 
kisses  each  time;  and  with  the  first  say,  "By  the  well 
of  Paravid";  and  with  the  second,  "By  the  strength  of 
Garraveen!"  and  with  the  third,  "By  the  Lily  of  the 
Sea!'" 

Now,  the  heart  of  the  youth  bounded  at  her  words, 
and  he  went  to  her,  and  trembling  kissed  her  all  bash- 
fully on  the  lips,  on  the  eyes,  and  on  the  forehead,  saying 
each  time  as  she  directed.  Then  she  took  him  by  the 
hand,  and  stepped  from  the  bed  of  earth,  crying  joy- 
fully, 'Thanks  be  to  Allah  and  the  Prophet!  Noorna 
is  released  from  the  sorceries  that  held  her,  and  power- 
ful.' 


15G  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

So,  while  he  was  wondering,  she  said,  'Knowest  thou 
not  the  woman,  tliy  betrothed  ?' 

He  answered,  '0  damsel  of  beauty,  I  am  charged 
with  many  feelings;  doubts  and  Iiopes  are  mixed  in  me. 
Say  first  who  thou  art,  and  fill  my  two  cars  with  bliss.' 

And  she  said,  'I  will  leave  my  name  to  other  lips; 
surely  I  am  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  be- 
trothed to  a  wandering  youth, — a  barber,  who  sickened 
at  the  betrothal,  and  consoled  himself  with  a  proverb 
when  he  gave  me  the  kiss  of  contract,  and  knew  not  how 
with  truth  to  pay  me  a  compliment.' 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  this  was  indeed  Noorna  bin 
Noorka,  his  betrothed,  and  he  fell  before  her  in  love  and 
astonishment;  but  she  lifted  him  to  her  neck,  and  em- 
braced him,  saying,  'Said  I  not  truly  when  I  said  "I 
am  that  I  shall  be"?  My  youth  is  not  as  that  of  Bhana- 
var  the  Beautiful,  gained  at  another's  cost,  but  my  own, 
and  stolen  from  me  by  wicked  sorceries.'  And  he  cried, 
'Tell  me,  0  Noorna,  my  betrothed,  how  this  matter 
came  to  pass  ? ' 

She  said,  'On  our  way  to  Aklis.' 

She  bade  him  grasp  the  Lily,  and  follow  her;  and  he 
followed  her  down  the  rock  and  over  the  bright  shells 
upon  the  sand,  admiring  her  stateliness,  her  willowy 
lightness,  her  slimness  as  of  the  palm-tree.  Then  she 
waded  in  the  water,  and  began  to  strike  out  with  her 
arms,  and  swim  boldly, — he  likewise;  and  presently 
they  came  to  a  current  that  hurried  them  off  in  its  course, 
and  carried  them  as  weeds,  streaming  rapidly.  He  was 
bearing  witness  to  his  faith  as  a  man  that  has  lost  hope 
of  life,  when  a  strong  eddy  stayed  him,  and  whirled  him 
from  the  current  into  the  calm  water.  So  he  looked  for 
Noorna,  and  saw  her  safe  beside  him  flinging  back  the 
wet  tresses  from  her  face,  that  was  like  the  full  moon 
growing  radiant  behind  a  dispersing  cloud.     And  she  said, 


THE  LILY  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SEA     157 

^Ask  not  for  the  interpretation  of  wonders  in  this  sea, 
for  they  cluster  like  dates  on  a  date  branch.  Surely, 
to  be  with  me  is  enough  ? ' 

And  she  bewitched  him  in  the  midst  of  the  waters, 
making  him  oblivious  of  all  save  her,  so  that  he  hugged 
the  golden  net  of  her  smiles  and  fair  flatteries,  and  swam 
with  an  exulting  stroke,  giving  his  breast  broadly  to  the 
low  billows,  and  shouting  verses  of  love  and  delight  to 
her.  And  while  they  swam  sweetly,  behold,  there  was 
seen  a  pearly  shell  of  flashing  crimson,  amethyst,  and 
emerald,  that  came  scudding  over  the  waves  toward 
them,  raised  to  the  wind,  fan-shaped,  and  in  its  front 
two  silver  seats.  When  she  saw  it,  Noorna  cried,  'She 
has  sent  me  this,  Rabesqurat!  Perchance  is  she  favour- 
able to  my  wishes,  and  this  were  well ! ' 

Then  she  swayed  in  the  water  sideways,  and  drew  the 
shell  to  her,  and  the  twain  climbed  into  it,  and  sat  each 
on  one  of  the  sUver  seats,  folded  together.  In  its  lightness 
it  was  as  a  foam-bubble  before  the  wind  on  the  blue  water, 
and  bore  them  onward  airily.  At  his  feet  Shibli  Baga- 
rag  beheld  a  stool  of  carved  topaz,  and  above  his  head 
the  arch  of  the  shell  was  inlaid  with  wreaths  of  gems :  never 
was  vessel  fairer  than  that. 

Now,  while  they  were  speeding  over  the  water,  Noorna 
said,  'The  end  of  this  fair  sea  is  Aldis,  and  beyond  it  is 
the  Koosh.  So  while  the  wind  is  our  helmsman,  and  we 
go  circled  by  the  quiet  of  this  sea,  I  '11  tell  thee  of  myself, 
if  thou  carest  to  hear.' 

And  he  cried  v/ith  the  ardour  of  love,  'Surely,  I  would 
hear  of  nought  save  thyself,  0  Noorna,  and  the  music 
of  the  happy  garden  compareth  not  in  sweetness  with  it. 
I  long  for  the  freshness  of  thy  voice,  as  the  desert  camel 
for  the  green  spring,  0  my  betrothed!' 

So  she  said,  'And  now  give  ear  to  the  following': — 


158  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


AND  THIS  IS  THE  STORY  OF  NOORNA  BIN 
NOORIvA,  THE  GENIE  KARAZ,  AND  THE 
PRINCESS  OF  OOLB 

Know,  that  when  I  was  a  babe,  I  lay  on  my  mother's 
bosom  in  the  wilderness,  and  it  was  the  bosom  of  death. 
Surely,  I  slept  and  smiled,  and  dreamed  the  infant's 
dream,  and  knew  not  the  coldness  of  the  thing  I  touched. 
So  were  we  even  as  two  dead  creatures  lying  there;  but 
life  was  in  me,  and  I  awoke  with  hunger  at  the  time  of 
feeding,  and  turned  to  my  mother,  and  put  up  my  little 
mouth  to  her  for  nourishment,  and  sucked  her,  but  noth- 
ing came.  I  cried,  and  commenced  chiding  her,  and  after 
a  while  it  was  as  decreed,  that  certain  horsemen  of  a  troop 
passing  through  the  wilderness  beheld  me,  and  seeing  my 
distress  and  the  helpless  being  I  was,  their  hearts  were 
stirred,  and  they  were  mindful  of  what  the  poet  says 
concerning  succour  given  to  the  poor,  helpless,  and  innocent 
of  this  world,  and  took  me  up,  and  mixed  for  me  camel's 
milk  and  water  from  the  bags,  and  comforted  me,  and 
bore  me  with  them,  after  they  had  paid  funeral  rites  to 
the  body  of  my  mother. 

Now,  the  rose-bud  showeth  if  the  rose-tree  be  of  the 
wilds  or  of  the  garden,  and  the  chief  of  that  troop  seeing 
me  born  to  the  uses  of  gentleness,  carried  me  in  his  arms 
with  him  to  his  wife,  and  persuaded  her  that  was  childless 
to  make  me  the  child  of  their  adoption.    So  I  abode  with 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ        159 

them  during  the  period  of  infancy  and  childhood,  caressed 
and  cared  for,  as  is  said : 

The  flower  a  stranger's  hand  may  gather, 
Strikes  root  into  the  stranger's  breast; 

Affection  is  our  mother,  father, 
Friend,  and  of  cherishers  the  best. 

And  I  loved  them  as  their  own  child,  witting  not  but 
that  I  was  their  child,  till  on  a  day  while  I  played  among 
some  children  of  my  years,  the  daughter  of  the  King  of 
Oolb  passed  by  us  on  a  mule,  with  her  slaves  and  drawn 
swords,  and  called  to  me,  'Thou  little  castaway!'  and 
had  me  brought  to  her,  and  peered  upon  my  face  in  a 
manner  that  frightened  me,  for  I  was  young.  Then  she 
put  me  down  from  the  neck  of  her  mule  where  she  had 
seated  me,  saying,  'Child  of  a  dead  mother  and  a  run- 
away father,  what  need  I  fear  from  thy  like,  and  the 
dreams  of  a  love-sick  Genie?'  So  she  departed,  but  I 
forgot  not  her  words,  and  dwelt  upon  them,  and  grew 
fevered  with  them,  and  drooped.  Now,  when  he  saw  my 
bloom  of  health  gone,  heaviness  on  my  feet,  the  light 
hollowed  from  my  eyes,  my  benefactor,  Ravaloke — he 
that  I  had  thought  my  father — took  me  between  his 
knees,  and  asked  me  what  it  was  and  the  cause  of  my 
ailing;  and  I  told  him. 

Then  said  he,  'This  is  so:  thou  art  not  my  child;  but 
I  love  thee  as  mine,  O  my  little  Desert-flower;  and  why 
the  Princess  should  fancy  fear  of  thee  I  like  not  to  think; 
but  fear  thou  her,  for  she  is  a  mask  of  wiles  and  a  vine 
trailing  over  pitfalls;  such  a  sorceress  the  world  knoweth 
not  as  Goorelka  of  Oolb.' 

Now,  I  was  penetrated  by  what  he  said,  and  ceased  to 
be  a  companion  to  them  that  loved  childish  games  and 
romps,  and  meditated  by  myself  in  gardens  and  closets, 
feigning  sleep   when  the  elder   ones   discoursed,   that   I 


160  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPxVT 

might  learn  something  of  this  mystery,  and  all  that  was 
spoken  perplexed  me  more,  as  the  sage  declareth: 

Who  in  a  labyrinth  wandereth  without  clue, 
More  that  he  wandereth  doth  himself  undo. 

Though  I  was  quick  as  the  quick-eyed  falcon,  I  discovered 
nought,  flying  ever  at  false  game, — 

A  follower  of  misleading  beams, 

A  cheated  soul,  the  mock  of  dreams. 

At  times  I  thought  that  it  was  the  King  of  Oolb  was 
my  father,  and  plotted  to  come  in  his  path;  and  there 
were  kings  and  princes  of  far  countries  whom  I  sought 
to  encounter,  that  they  might  claim  me;  but  none  claimed 
me.  O  my  betrothed,  few  gave  me  love  beside  Ravaloke, 
and  when  the  wife  that  he  cherished  died,  he  solely,  for  I 
was  lost  in  w^aywardness  and  the  slave  of  moody  imagin- 
ings.    Tissaid: 


^to'" 


If  thou  the  love  of  the  world  for  thyself  wouldst  gain,  mould 

thy  breast 
Liker  the  world  to  become,  for  its  like  the  world  loveth  best; 

and  this  was  not  I  then. 

Now,  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men  are  used  to  cele- 
brate the  days  of  their  birth  with  gifts  and  rejoicings, 
but  I  could  only  celebrate  that  day  w-hich  delivered  me 
from  death  into  the  hands  of  Ravaloke,  as  none  knew 
my  birth-hour.  When  it  was  the  twelfth  return  of  this 
event,  Ravaloke,  my  heart's  father,  called  me  to  him 
and  pressed  in  my  hand  a  glittering  coin,  telling  me  to 
buy  with  it  in  the  bazaars  what  I  would.  So  I  went  forth, 
attended  by  a  black  slave,  after  the  mid-noon,  for  I  was 
eager  to  expend  my  store,  and  cared  not  for  the  great 
heat.    Scarcely  had  we  passed  the  cheese-market  and  were 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ        IGl 

hurrying  on  to  shops  of  the  goldsmiths  and  jewellers, 
when  I  saw  an  old  man,  a  beggar,  in  a  dirty  yellow  turban 
and  pieced  particoloured  cloth-stuff,  and  linen  in  rags  his 
other  gear.  So  lean  was  he,  and  looked  so  weak  that  I 
wondered  he  did  other  than  lay  his  length  on  the  ground; 
and  as  he  asked  me  for  alms  his  voice  had  a  piteousness 
that  made  me  to  weep,  and  I  punished  my  slave  for  seeking 
to  drive  him  away,  and  gave  my  one  piece  of  gold  into  his 
hand.  Then  he  asked  me  what  I  required  of  him  in  ex- 
change, and  I  said,  'What  can  a  poor  old  man  that  is 
a  beggar  give?'  He  laughed,  and  asked  me  then  what 
I  had  intended  to  buy  with  that  piece  of  money.  So,  be- 
ginning to  regret  the  power  that  was  gone  from  me  of  com- 
manding with  my  gold  piece  this  and  that  fine  thing,  I 
mused,  and  said,  'Truly,  a  blue  dress  embroidered  with 
gold,  and  a  gold  crown,  and  gold  bracelets  set  with  tur- 
quoise stones, — these,  and  toys;  but  could  I  buy  in  this 
city  a  book  of  magic,  that  were  my  purchase.' 

The  old  fellow  smiled,  and  said  to  my  black  slave,  'And 
thou,  hadst  thou  this  coin,  what  were  thy  purchase  there- 
with?' 

He,  scoffing  the  old  beggar,  answered,  'A  plaister  for 
sores  as  broad  as  my  back,  and  a  camel's  hump,  0  thou 
old  villain!' 

The  old  man  grunted  in  his  chest,  and  said,  'Thou  art 
but  a  camel  thyself,  to  hinder  a  true  Mussulman  from 
passing  in  peace  down  a  street  of  Oolb;  so  'twere  a  good 
purchase  and  a  fitting:  know'st  thou  what  is  said  of  the 
blessing  given  by  them  that  receive  a  charity? 

"  'Tis  the  fertilizing  dew  that  streameth  after  the  sun, 
Strong  as  the  breath  of  Allah  to  bless  life  well  begun." 

So  is  my  blessing  on  the  little  damsel,  and  she  shall  have 
her  wish,  wullahy,  thou  black  face!  and  thou  thine.' 


162  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

This  spake  the  old  man,  and  hol)l)lcd  off  while  my 
slave  was  jeering  him.  So  I  strolled  through  the  bazaars 
and  thought  no  more  of  the  old  man's  words,  and  longed 
to  purchiise  a  hundred  fineries,  and  eame  to  the  con- 
fectioner's, and  smelt  the  smell  of  his  musk-scented  sweet- 
meats and  lemon  sweets  and  sugared  pistachios  that  are 
delicious  to  crunch  between  the  teeth.  My  mouth  watered, 
and  I  said  to  my  slave,  'O  Kadrab,  a  coin,  though  'twere 
small,  would  give  us  i)rivilege  in  yonder  shop  to  select, 
and  fea.st,  and  approve  the  skill  of  the  confectioner.' 

He  grirmed,  and  displayed  in  his  black  fist  a  petty  coin 
of  exchange,  but  would  not  let  me  have  it  till  I  had  sworn 
to  give  no  more  away  to  beggars.  So  even  as  we  were 
hurrying  into  the  shop,  another  old  beggar  wretcheder 
than  the  first  fronted  me,  and  I  was  moved,  and  forgot 
my  promise  to  Kadrab,  and  gave  him  the  money.  Then 
was  Kadrab  wroth,  and  kicked  the  old  beggar  with  his 
fore-foot,  lifting  him  high  in  air,  and  lo!  he  did  not  alight, 
but  rose  over  the  roofs  of  the  houses  and  beyond  the  city, 
till  he  was  but  a  speck  in  the  blue  of  the  sky  above.  So 
Kadrab  bit  his  forefinger  amazed,  and  glanced  at  his  foot, 
and  at  what  was  visible  of  the  old  beggarman,  and  again 
at  his  foot,  thinking  but  of  what  he  had  done  with  it,  and 
the  might  manifested  in  that  kick,  fool  that  he  was!  All 
the  way  homeward  he  kept  scanning  the  sky  and  lifting  his 
foot  aloft,  and  I  saw  him  bewildered  with  a  strange  con- 
ceit, as  the  poet  has  exclaimed  in  his  scorn: 

Oh,  world  diseased!   oh,  race  empirical! 
Where  fools  are  the  fathers  of  every  miracle! 

Now,  when  I  was  in  my  chamber,  what  saw  I  there 
but  a  dress  of  very  costly  blue  raiment  with  gold-work 
broidery  and  a  lovely  circlet  of  gold,  and  gold  bracelets 
set  with  stones  of  turquoise,  and  a  basket  of  gold  woven 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ        163 

wire,  wherein  were  toys,  wondrous  ones — soldiers  that 
cut  off  each  other's  heads  and  put  them  on  again,  spring- 
ing antelopes,  palm-trees  that  turned  to  fountains,  and 
others;  and  lo!  a  book  in  red  binding,  with  figures  on  it 
and  clasps  of  gold,  a  great  book!  So  I  clapped  my  hands 
joyfully,  crying,  'The  old  beggar  has  done  it!'  and  robed 
myself  in  the  dress,  and  ran  forth  to  tell  Ravaloke.  As  I 
ran  by  a  window  looking  on  the  inner  court,  I  saw  below  a 
crowd  of  all  the  slaves  of  Ravaloke  round  one  that  was  seek- 
ing to  escape  from  them,  and  'twas  Kadrab  with  a  camel's 
hump  on  his  back,  and  a  broad  brown  plaister  over  it, 
the  wretch  howling,  peering  across  his  shoulder,  and  try- 
ing to  bolt  from  his  burden,  as  a  horse  that  would  run  from 
his  rider.  Then  I  saw  that  Kadrab  also  had  his  wish,  his 
camel's  hump,  and  thought,  'The  old  beggar,  what  was 
he  but  a  Genie?'  Surely  Ravaloke  caressed  me  when  he 
heard  of  the  adventure,  and  what  had  befallen  Kadrab 
was  the  jest  of  the  city;  but  for  me  I  spared  httle  time 
away  from  that  book,  and  studied  in  it  incessantly  the  ways 
and  windings  of  magic,  till  I  could  hold  communication 
with  Genii,  and  wield  charms  to  summon  them,  and  utter 
spells  that  subdue  them,  discovering  the  haunts  of  tahs- 
mans  that  enthral  Afrites  and  are  powerful  among  men. 
There  was  that  Kadrab  coming  to  me  daily  to  call  out 
in  the  air  for  the  old  beggarman  to  rid  him  of  his  hump; 
and  he  would  waste  hours  looking  up  into  the  sky  moodily 
for  him,  and  cursing  the  five  toes  of  his  foot,  for  he  doubted 
not  the  two  beggars  were  one,  and  that  he  was  punished 
for  the  kick,  and  lamented  it  direly,  sajdng  in  the  thick 
of  his  whimperings,  *  I  'd  give  the  foot  that  did  it  to 
be  released  from  my  hump,  O  my  fair  mistress.'  So 
I  pitied  him,  and  made  a  powder  and  a  spell,  and  my 
first  experiment  in  magic  was  to  relieve  Kadrab  of  his 
hump,  and  I  succeeded  in  loosening  it,  and  it  came  away 
from  him,  and  sank  into  the  ground  of  the  garden  where 


1G4  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHiVGPAT 

wc  stood.  So  I  told  Kadrab  to  say  nothing  of  this,  but 
the  idle-patetl  fellow  blabbed  it  over  the  city,  and  it  came 
to  the  ears  of  Goorclka.  Then  she  sent  for  me  to  visit  her, 
;ind  by  the  advice  of  Ravaloke  I  went,  and  she  fondled 
me,  and  sought  to  get  at  the  dej)th  of  my  knowledge  by 
a  spell  that  tieth  every  faculty  save  the  tongue,  and  it 
is  the  spell  of  vain  longing.  Now,  because  I  bafiled  her 
arts  she  knew  me  more  cumiing  than  I  seemed,  and  as 
night  advanced  she  affected  to  be  possessed  with  pleasure 
in  me,  and  took  me  in  her  arms  and  sought  to  fascinate 
me,  and  I  heard  her  mutter  once,  '  Shall  I  doubt  the  warn- 
ing of  Karaz?'  So  presently  she  said,  'Come  with  me'; 
and  I  went  with  her  under  the  curtain  of  that  apartment 
into  another,  a  long  saloon,  wherein  were  couches  round  a 
fountain,  and  beyond  it  an  aviary  lit  with  lamps :  when  we 
were  there  she  whistled,  and  immediately  there  was  a  con- 
cert of  birds,  a  wondrous  accord  of  exquisite  piping, 
and  she  leaned  on  a  couch  and  took  me  by  her  to  listen; 
sweet  and  passionate  was  the  harmony  of  the  birds;  but 
I  let  not  my  faculties  lull,  and  observed  that  round  the 
throat  of  every  bird  was  a  ringed  mark  of  gold  and  stamps 
of  divers  gems  similar  in  colour  to  a  ring  on  the  forefinger 
of  her  right  hand,  which  she  dazzled  my  sight  with  as  she 
flashed  it.  When  we  had  listened  a  long  hour  to  this  music, 
the  Princess  gazed  on  me  as  if  to  mark  the  effect  of  a  charm, 
and  I  saw  disappointment  on  her  lovely  face,  and  she  bit 
her  lip  and  looked  spiteful,  saying,  'Thou  art  far  gone  in 
the  use  of  magic,  and  wary,  O  girl!'  Then  she  laughed 
uimaturally,  and  called  slaves  to  bring  in  sweet  drinLs 
to  us,  and  I  drank  with  her,  and  became  less  wary,  and 
she  fondled  me  more,  calling  me  tender  names,  heaping 
endearments  on  me;  and  as  the  hour  of  the  middle-night 
approached  I  was  losing  all  suspicion  in  deep  languor, 
and  sighed  at  the  song  of  the  birds,  the  long  love-song, 
and  dozed  awake  with  eyes  half  shut.     I  felt  her  steal 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  IvARAZ        165 

from  me,  and  continued  stOl  motionless  without  alarm: 
so  was  I  mastered.  What  hour  it  was  or  what  time  had 
passed  I  cannot  say,  when  a  bird  that  was  chained  on 
a  perch  before  me — a  very  quaint  bird,  with  a  topknot 
awry,  and  black,  heavy  bill,  and  ragged  gorgeousness  of 
plumage — the  only  object  between  my  lids  and  darkness, 
suddenly,  in  the  midst  of  the  singing,  let  loose  a  hoarse 
laugh  that  was  followed  by  peals  of  laughter  from  the 
other  birds.  Thereat  I  started  up,  and  beheld  the  Prin- 
cess standing  over  a  brazier,  and  she  seized  a  slipper  from 
her  foot  and  flung  it  at  the  bird  that  had  first  laughed, 
and  struck  him  off  his  perch,  and  went  to  him  and  seized 
him  and  shook  him,  crying,  'Dare  to  laugh  again!'  and 
he  kept  clearing  his  throat  and  trying  to  catch  the  tune 
he  had  lost,  pitching  a  high  note  and  a  low  note;  but  the 
marvel  of  this  laughter  of  the  bird  wakened  me  thoroughly, 
and  I  thanked  the  bird  in  my  soul,  and  said  to  Goorelka, 
'More  wondrous  than  their  singing,  this  laughter,  O 
Princess!' 

She  would  not  speak  till  she  had  beaten  every  bird  in 
the  aviary,  and  then  said  in  the  words  of  the  poet : 

Shall  they  that  deal  in  magic  match  degrees  of  wonder  ? 
From  the  bosom  of  one  cloud  comes  the  lightning  and  the 
thunder. 

Then  said  she,  '0  Noorna!  I  '11  tell  thee  truly  my  intent, 
which  was  to  enchant  thee;  but  I  find  thee  wise,  so  let 
us  join  our  powers,  and  thou  shalt  become  mighty  as  a 
sorceress.' 

Now,  Ravaloke  had  said  to  me,  'Her  friendship  is 
fire,  her  enmity  frost;  so  be  cold  to  the  former,  to  the 
latter  hot,'  and  I  dissembled  and  replied,  'Teach  me, 
O  Princess!' 

So  she  asked  me  what  I  could  do.  Could  I  plant  a 
mountain  in  the  sea  and  people  it?    could  I  anchor  a  pur- 


166  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

pie  cloud  under  the  sun  and  live  there  a  year  with  them 
I  delighted  in?  could  I  fix  the  eyes  of  the  world  upon 
one  head  and  make  the  nations  bow  to  it;  change  men 
to  birds,  fishes  to  men;  and  so  on — a  hundred  sorceries 
that  I  had  never  attempted  and  dreamed  not  of.  O  my 
betrothed!  I  had  never  oiTended  Allah  by  a  misuse  of  my 
powers.  When  I  told  her,  she  cried,  'Thou  art  then  of 
a  surety  she  that 's  fitted  for  the  custody  of  the  Lily  of  the 
Light,  so  come  with  me.' 

Now,  I  had  heard  of  the  Lily,  even  this  thou  holdest — 
may  its  influence  be  unwithering! — and  desired  to  see 
it.  So  she  led  me  from  the  palace  to  the  shore  of  the 
sea,  and  flung  a  cockle-shell  on  the  waters,  and  seated 
herself  in  it  with  me  in  her  lap;  and  we  scudded  over 
the  waters,  and  entered  this  Enchanted  Sea,  and  stood 
by  the  Lily.  Then,  I  that  loved  flowers  undertook  the 
custody  of  this  one,  knowing  not  the  consequences  and 
the  depth  of  her  wiles.    'Tis  truly  said: 

The  overwise  themselves  hoodwink, 
For  simple  eyesight  is  a  modest  thing: 

They  on  the  black  abysm's  brink 
Smile,  and  but  when  they  fall  bitterly  think, 
What  difference  'twixt  the  fool  and  me,  Creation's  King? 

Nevertheless  for  awhile  nothing  evil  resulted,  and  I  had 
great  joy  in  the  flower,  and  tended  it  with  exceeding 
watchfulness,  and  loved  it,  so  that  I  was  brought  in  my 
heart  to  thank  the  Princess  and  think  well  of  her. 

Now,  one  summer  eve  as  Ravalokc  rested  imder  the 
shade  of  his  garden  palm,  and  I  studied  beside  him  great 
volumes  of  magic,  it  happened  that  after  I  had  read  cer- 
tain pages  I  closed  one  of  the  boolsjs  marked  on  the  cover 
'Alif,'  and  shut  the  clasp  louder  than  I  intended,  so 
that  he  who  was  dozing  started  up,  and  his  head  was 
in  the  sloped  sun  in  an  instant,  and  I  observed  the  shadow 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ        167 

of  his  head  lengthen  out  along  the  grass-plot  towards  the 
mossed  wall,  and  it  shot  up  the  wall,  darkening  it — then 
drawing  back  and  lessening,  then  darting  forth  like  a  beast 
of  darkness  irritable  for  prey.  I  was  troubled,  for  whatso 
is  seen  while  the  volume  Alif  is  in  use  hath  a  portent; 
but  the  discovery  of  what  this  might  be  baffled  me.  So 
I  determined  to  watch  events,  and  it  was  not  many  days 
ere  Ravaloke,  who  was  the  leader  of  the  armies  of  the  King 
of  Oolb,  was  called  forth  to  subdue  certain  revolted  tribu- 
taries of  the  King,  and  at  my  entreaty  took  me  with  him, 
and  I  saw  battles  and  encounters  lasting  a  day's  length. 
Once  we  were  encamped  in  a  fruitful  country  by  a  brook 
running  with  a  bright  eye  between  green  banks,  and  I  that 
had  freedom  and  the  password  of  the  camp  wandered  down 
to  it,  and  refreshed  my  forehead  with  its  coolness.  So,  as 
I  looked  under  the  falling  drops,  lo!  on  the  opposite  bank 
the  old  beggar  that  had  given  me  such  fair  return  for 
my  alms  and  Kadrab  his  hump!  I  heard  him  call,  'This 
night  is  the  key  to  the  mystery,'  and  he  was  gone.  Every 
incantation  I  uttered  was  insufiBcient  to  bring  him  back. 
Surely,  I  hurried  to  the  tents  and  took  no  sleep,  watching 
zealously  by  the  tent  of  Ravaloke,  crouched  in  its  shadow. 
About  the  time  of  the  setting  of  the  moon  I  heard  footsteps 
approach  the  tent  within  the  circle  of  the  guard,  and  it  was 
a  youth  that  held  in  his  hand  naked  steel.  When  he  was 
by  the  threshold  of  the  tent,  I  rose  before  him  and  beheld 
the  favourite  of  Ravaloke,  even  the  youth  he  had  destined 
to  espouse  me ;  so  I  reproached  him,  and  he  wept,  denying 
not  the  intention  he  had  to  assassinate  Ravaloke,  and  when 
his  soul  was  softened  he  confessed  to  me,  "Twas  that  I 
might  win  the  Princess  Goorelka,  and  she  urged  me  to 
it,  promising  the  King  would  promote  me  to  the  vacant 
post  of  Ravaloke.' 

Then  I  said  to  him,  '  Lov'st  thou  Goorelka  ? ' 

And    he    answered,    'Yea,   though   I   know   my  doom 


1G8  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

in  lovinp;  her;   and  that  it  will  be  the  doom  of  them  now 
piping  to  her  pleasure  and  denied  the  privilege  of  laughter.' 

So  I  thought,  'Oh,  cruel  sorceress!  the  birds  arc  men!' 
And  as  I  mused,  my  breast  melted  with  pity  at  their  desire 
to  laugh,  and  the  little  restraint  they  had  upon  them- 
selves notwithstanding  her  harshness;  for  could  they 
think  of  their  changed  condition  and  folly  without  laugh- 
ter? and  the  folly  that  sent  them  fresh  mates  in  misery 
was  indeed  matter  for  laughter,  fed  to  fulness  by  coastant 
meditation  on  the  perch.  Meantime,  I  uncharmed  the 
youth  and  bade  him  retire  quickly;  but  as  he  was  going, 
he  said,  'Beware  of  the  Genie  Karaz!'  Then  I  held  him 
back,  and  after  a  parley  he  told  me  what  he  had  heard 
the  Princess  say,  and  it  was  that  Karaz  had  seen  me  and 
sworn  to  possess  me  for  my  beauty.  'Strangely  smiled 
Goorelka  when  she  spake  that,'  said  he. 

Now,  the  City  of  Oolb  fronts  the  sea,  and  behind  it 
is  a  mountain  and  a  w^ood,  where  the  King  met  Ravalokc 
on  his  return  victorious  over  the  rebels.  So,  to  escape 
the  eye  of  the  Kng  I  parted  with  Ravaloke,  and  sought 
to  enter  the  city  by  a  circuitous  way;  but  the  paths  wound 
about  and  zigzagged,  and  my  slaves  suffered  nightfall 
to  suri)rise  us  in  the  entanglements  of  the  wood.  I  sent 
them  in  different  directions  to  strike  into  the  main  path, 
retaining  Kadrab  at  the  bridle  of  my  mule;  but  that 
creature  now  began  to  address  me  in  a  familiar  tone, 
and  he  said  something  of  love  for  me  that  em-aged  me, 
so  that  I  hit  him  a  blow.  Then  came  from  him  sounds  like 
the  neighing  of  mares,  and  lo!  he  seized  me  and  rose  with 
me  in  the  air,  and  I  thought  the  very  heavens  were  open- 
ing to  that  black  beast,  when  on  a  sudden  he  ])aused,  and 
shot  down  with  me  from  heights  of  the  stars  to  the  mouth 
of  a  cavern  by  the  Putrid  Sea,  and  dragged  me  into  a 
cavern  greatly  illuminated,  hung  like  a  palace  chamber, 
and  su])[)orted  on  pillars  of  shining  jasper.     Then  I  fell 


NOONA   AND   THE   GENIE   KARAZ         169 

upon  the  floor  in  a  swoon,  and  awaking  saw  Kadrab  no 
longer,  but  in  his  place  a  Genie.  0  my  soul,  thou  hast  seen 
him! — I  thought  at  once,  "tis  Karaz!'  and  when  he  said 
to  me,  'This  is  thy  abode,  0  lady!  and  I  he  that  have 
sworn  to  possess  thee  from  the  hour  I  saw  thee  in  the 
chamber  of  Goorelka,'  then  was  I  certain  'twas  Karaz.  So, 
collecting  the  strength  of  my  soul,  I  said,  in  the  words  of 
the  poet: 

'Woo  not  a  heart  preoccupied! 
What  thorn  is  like  a  loathing  bride? 
Mark  ye  the  shrubs  how  they  turn  from  the  sea, 

The  sea's  rough  whispers  shun  ? 
But  like  the  sun  of  heaven  be, 
And  every  flower  will  open  wide. 
Woo  with  the  shining  patience  we 

Beheld  in  heaven's  sun.' 

Then  he  sang: 

Exquisite  lady!   name  the  smart 

That  fills  thy  heart. 
Thou  art  the  foot  and  I  the  worm: 

Prescribe  the  Term. 

Finding  him  compliant,  I  said,  '0  great  Genie,  truly 
the  search  of  my  life  has  been  to  discover  him  that  is 
my  father,  and  how  I  was  left  in  the  wilderness.  There  's 
no  peace  for  me,  nor  understanding  the  word  of  love, 
till  I  hear  by  whom  I  was  left  a  babe  on  the  bosom  of  a 
dead  mother.' 

He  exclaimed,  and  his  eyes  twinkled,  "Tis  that?  that 
shalt  thou  know  in  a  span  of  time,  O  my  mistress,  hast 
thou  seen  the  birds  of  Goorelka?  Thy  father  Feshnavat 
is  among  them,  perched  like  a  bird.' 

iSo  I  cried,  'And  tell  me  how  he  may  be  disenchanted.' 


170  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

He  said,  'Swear  first  to  be  mine  unreluctantly.' 

Then  I  said,  '  What  is  thy  oath?' 

He  answered,  '  I  swear,  when  I  swear,  by  the  Identical.' 

Thereupon  I  questioned  him  concerning  the  Identical, 
what  it  was;  and  he,  not  suspecting,  revealed  to  me  the 
mighty  hair  in  his  head  now  in  the  head  of  Shagpat,  even 
that.  So  I  swore  by  that  to  give  myself  to  the  possessor 
of  the  Identical,  and  flattered  him.  Then  said  he,  'O 
lovely  damsel,  I  am  truly  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the 
Genii;  yet  am  I  in  bondage  to  that  sorceress  Goorelka  by 
reason  of  a  ring  she  holdeth;  and  could  I  get  that  ring 
from  her  and  be  slave  to  nothing  mortal  an  hour,  I  could 
light  creation  as  a  torch,  and  broil  the  inhabitants  of  earth 
at  one  fire.' 

I  thought,  'That  ring  is  known  to  me!'  And  he  con- 
tinued, 'Surely  I  cannot  assist  thee  in  this  work  other 
than  by  revealing  the  means  of  disenchantment,  and  it 
is  to  keep  the  birds  laughing  uninterruptedly  an  hour; 
then  are  they  men  again,  and  take  the  forms  of  men  that 
are  laughers — I  know  not  why.' 

So  I  cried,  "Tis  well!  carry  me  back  to  Oolb.' 

Then  the  Genie  lifted  me  into  the  air,  and  ceased  not 
speeding  rapidly  through  it,  till  I  was  on  the  roof  of  the 
house  of  Ravaloke.  0  sweet  youth!  moon  of  my  soul!  from 
that  time  to  the  disenchantment  of  Feshnavat,  I  pored 
over  my  books,  trying  experiments  in  magic,  dreadful  ones, 
hunting  for  talismans  to  countervail  Goorelka;  but  her 
power  was  great,  and  'twas  not  in  me  to  get  her  away 
from  the  birds  one  hour  to  free  them.  On  a  certain  occasion 
I  had  stolen  to  them,  and  kept  them  laughing  with  stories 
of  man  to  within  an  instant  of  the  hour;  and  they  were 
laughing  exultingly  with  the  easy  happy  laugh  of  them  that 
perceive  deliverance  sure,  when  she  burst  in  and  beat  them 
even  to  the  door  of  death.  I  saw  too  in  her  eyes,  that 
glowed  like  the  eyes  of  wild  cats  in  the  dark,  she  suspected 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ        171 

me,  and  I  called  Allah  to  aid  the  just  cause  against  the  sin- 
ful, and  prepared  to  war  with  her. 

Now,  my  desire,  which  was  to  liberate  my  father  and 
his  fellows  in  tribulation,  I  knew  pure,  and  had  no  fear 
of  the  sequel,  as  is  declared: 

Fear  nought  so  much  as  Fear  itself;  for  arm'd  with  Fear  the 

Foe 
Finds  passage  to  the  vital  part,  and  strikes  a  double  blow. 

So  one  day  as  I  leaned  from  my  casement  looking  on 
the  garden  seaward,  I  saw  a  strange  red  and  yellow- 
feathered  bird  that  flew  to  the  branch  of  a  citron-tree 
opposite,  with  a  ring  in  its  beak;  and  the  bird  was  sing- 
ing, and  with  every  note  the  ring  dropped  from  its  bill, 
and  it  descended  swiftly  in  an  arrowy  slant  downward, 
and  seized  it  ere  it  reached  the  ground,  and  commenced 
singing  afresh.  When  I  had  marked  this  to  happen  many 
times,  I  thought,  'How  like  is  this  bird  to  an  innocent 
soul  possessed  of  magic  and  using  its  powers !  Lo,  it  seeketh 
still  to  sing  as  one  of  the  careless,  and  cannot  relinquish 
the  ring  and  be  as  the  careless,  and  between  the  two  there 
is  neither  peace  for  it  nor  pleasure.'  Now,  while  my  eyes 
were  on  the  pretty  bird,  dwelling  on  it,  I  saw  it  struck 
suddenly  by  an  arrow  beneath  the  left  wing,  and  the  bird 
fluttered  to  my  bosom  and  dropped  in  it  the  ring  from  its 
beak.  Then  it  sprang  weakly,  and  sought  to  fly  and  soar, 
and  fluttered;  but  a  blue  film  lodged  over  its  eyes,  and 
its  panting  was  quickly  ended.  So  I  looked  at  the  ring  and 
knew  it  for  that  one  I  had  noted  on  the  finger  of  Goorelka. 
Red  blushed  my  bliss,  and  'twas  revealed  to  me  that  the 
bird  was  of  the  birds  of  the  Princess  that  had  escaped  from 
her  with  the  ring.  I  buried  the  bird,  weeping  for  it,  and 
flew  to  my  books,  and  as  I  read  a  glow  stole  over  me. 
O  my  betrothed,  eyes  of  my  soul!    I  read  that  the  pos- 


172  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHiVGPAT 

sessor  of  that  ring  was  mistress  of  the  marvellous  hair 
which  is  a  magnet  to  the  homage  of  men,  so  that  they 
crowd  and  crush  and  Iiunger  to  adore  it,  even  the  Identi- 
cal! This  was  the  power  that  peoj)led  the  aviary  of  Goo- 
relka,  and  had  well-nigh  conquered  all  the  resistance  of 
my  craft. 

Now,  while  I  read  there  arose  a  hubljub  and  noise  in 
the  outer  court,  and  shrieks  of  slaves.  The  noise  ap- 
proached with  rapid  strides,  and  before  I  could  close  my 
books  Goorelka  burst  in  upon  me,  crying,  'Noorna! 
Noorna!'  Wild  and  haggard  was  her  head,  and  she  rushed 
to  my  books  and  saw  them  open  at  the  sign  of  the  ring: 
then  began  our  combat.  She  menaced  me  as  never  mortal 
was  menaced.  Rapid  lightning-flashes  were  her  transfor- 
mations, and  she  was  a  serpent,  a  scorpion,  a  lizard,  a 
lioness  in  succession,  but  I  leapt  perpetually  into  fresh 
rings  of  fire  and  of  witched  water;  and  at  the  fiftieth  trans- 
formation, she  fell  on  the  floor  exhausted,  a  shuddering 
heap.  Seeing  that,  I  ran  from  her  to  the  aviary  in  her 
palace,  and  hurried  over  a  story  of  men  to  the  birds,  that 
rocked  them  on  their  jierches  with  chestquakes  of  irresist- 
ible laughter.  Then  flew  I  back  to  the  Princess,  and  she 
still  j)uffing  on  the  floor,  commenced  wheedling  and  begging 
the  ring  of  me,  stinting  no  promises.  At  last  she  cried, 
'Girl!  what  is  this  ring  to  thee  without  beauty?  Thy 
beauty  is  in  my  keeping.' 

And  I  exclaimed,  'How?  how?'  smitten  to  the  soul. 

She  answered,  'Yea;  and  I  can  wear  it  as  my  own, 
adding  it  to  my  own,  when  thou  'rt  a  hag!' 

My  betrothed!  I  was  on  the  verge  of  giving  her  the 
ring  for  this  secret,  when  a  violent  remote  laughter  filled 
the  inner  hollow  of  my  ears,  and  it  increased,  till  the  Prin- 
cess heard  it ;  and  now  the  light  of  my  casement  was  dark- 
ened with  birds,  the  birds  of  Goorelka,  laughing  as  on  a 
wind  of  laughter.    So  I  opened  to  them,  and  they  darted 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ        173 

in,  laughing  all  of  them,  till  I  could  hold  out  no  longer, 
and  the  infection  of  laughter  seized  me,  and  I  rolled  with 
it;  and  the  Princess,  she  too  laughed  a  hyaena-laugh  under 
a  cat's  grin,  and  we  all  of  us  remained  in  this  wise  some 
minutes,  laughing  the  breath  out  of  our  bodies,  as  if  death 
would  take  us.  Whoso  in  the  City  of  Oolb  heard  us,  the 
slaves,  the  people,  and  the  King,  laughed,  knowing  not 
the  cause.  This  day  is  still  remembered  in  Oolb  as  the  day 
of  laughter.  Now,  at  a  stroke  of  the  hour  the  laughter 
ceased,  and  I  saw  in  the  chamber  a  crowd  of  youths  and 
elders  of  various  ranks;  but  their  visages  were  become 
long  and  solemn  as  that  of  them  that  have  seen  a  dark  ex- 
perience. 'Tis  certain  they  laughed  little  in  their  lives 
from  that  time,  and  the  muscles  of  their  cheeks  had  rest. 
So  I  caught  down  my  veil,  and  cried  to  the  Princess,  'My 
father  is  among  these;   point  him  out  to  me.' 

Ere  she  replied  one  stepped  forth,  even  Feshnavat, 
my  father,  and  called  me  by  name,  and  knew  me  by  a 
spot  on  the  left  arm,  and  made  himself  known  to  me, 
and  told  me  the  story  of  my  dead  mother,  how  she  had 
missed  her  way  from  the  caravan  in  the  desert,  and  he 
searching  her  was  set  upon  by  robbers,  and  borne  on 
their  expeditions.  Nothing  said  he  of  the  sorceries  of 
Goorelka,  and  I,  not  wishing  to  provoke  the  Princess, 
suffered  his  dread  to  exist.  So  I  kissed  him,  and  bowed 
my  head  to  him,  and  she  fled  from  the  sight  of  innocent 
happiness.  Then  took  I  the  ring,  and  summoned  Karaz, 
and  ordered  him  to  reinstate  all  those  princes  and  chiefs 
and  officers  in  their  possessions  and  powers,  on  what 
part  of  earth  soever  that  might  be.  Never  till  I  stood 
as  the  Lily  and  thy  voice  sweetened  the  name  of  love  in 
my  ears,  heard  I  aught  of  delicate  delightfulness,  like  the 
sound  of  their  gratitude.  Many  wooed  me  to  let  them 
stay  by  me  and  guard  me,  and  do  ser\dce  all  their  lives 
to  me;  but  this  I  would  not  allow,  and  though  they  were 


174  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

fair  as  moons,  some  of  them,  I  responded  not  to  their  soft 
glances,  spoakin<:;  cahnly  the  word  of  farewell,  for  I  was 
burdened  witli  other  thoughts. 

Now,  wlicn  the  Genie  had  done  my  bidding,  he  returned 
to  me  joyfully.  My  soul  sickened  to  think  myself  his 
by  a  promise;  but  I  revolved  the  words  of  my  promise, 
and  saw  in  them  a  loophole  of  escape.  So,  when  he  claimed 
me,  I  said,  *Ay!  ay!  lay  thy  head  in  my  lap,'  as  if  my 
mind  treasured  it.  Then  he  lay  there,  and  revealed  to  me 
his  plans  for  the  destruction  of  men.  'Or,'  said  he,  'they 
shall  be  our  slaves  and  burden-beasts,  for  there  's  now 
no  restraint  on  me,  now  thou  art  mistress  of  the  ring,  and 
mine.'  Thereupon  his  imagination  swelled,  and  he  saw 
his  evil  will  enthroned,  and  the  hopes  of  men  beneath  his 
heel,  crying,  'And  the  more  I  crush  them  the  thicker  they 
crowd,  for  the  Identical  compelleth  their  very  souls  to 
adore  in  spite  of  distaste.' 

Then  said  I,  'Tell  me,  0  Genie!  is  the  Identical  sub- 
servient to  me  in  another  head  save  thine  ? ' 

He  answered,  '  Nay !  in  another  head  'tis  a  counteraction 
to  the  power  of  the  Ring,  the  Ring  powerless  over  it.' 

And  I  said,  'Must  it  live  in  a  head,  the  Identical?' 

Cried  he,  '  Woe  to  what  else  holdeth  it ! ' 

I  whispered  in  his  hairy  pointed  red  ear,  'Sleep!  sleep! ' 
and  lulled  him  with  a  song,  and  he  slept,  being  weary 
with  my  commissioning.  Then  I  bade  Feshnavat,  my 
father,  fetch  me  one  of  my  books  of  magic,  and  read  in  it 
of  the  discovery  of  the  Identical  by  means  of  the  Ring; 
and  I  took  the  Ring  and  hung  it  on  a  hair  of  my  own 
head  over  the  head  of  the  Genie,  and  saw  one  of  the  thin 
lengths  begin  to  twist  and  dart  and  writhe,  and  shift 
lustres  as  a  creature  in  anguish.  So  I  put  the  Ring  on  my 
forefinger,  and  turned  the  hair  round  and  round  it,  and 
tugged.  Lo,  with  a  noise  that  stunned  me,  the  hair  came 
out  I     O  my  betrothed,  what  shrieks  and  roars  were  those- 


NOORNA  AND  THE  GENIE  KARAZ        175 

with  which  the  Genie  awoke,  finding  himself  bare  of  the 
Identical!  Oolb  heard  them,  and  the  sea  foamed  like  the 
mouth  of  madness,  as  the  Genie  sped  thunder-like  over  it, 
following  me  in  mid-air.  Such  a  flight  was  that!  Now,  I 
found  it  not  possible  to  hold  the  Identical,  for  it  twisted  and 
stung,  and  was  nigh  slipping  from  me  while  I  flew,  I  saw 
white  on  a  corner  of  the  Desert,  a  city,  and  I  descended  on 
it  by  the  shop  of  a  clothier  that  sat  quietly  by  his  goods  and 
stuffs,  thinking  of  fate  less  than  of  kabobs  and  stews  and 
rare  seasonings.  That  city  hath  now  his  name.  Wullahy, 
had  I  not  then  sown  in  his  head  that  hair  which  he  weareth 
yet,  how  had  I  escaped  Karaz,  and  met  thee?  Wondrous 
are  the  decrees  of  Pro\'idence!  Praise  be  to  Allah  for  them! 
So  the  Genie,  when  he  found  himself  baffled  by  me,  and 
Shagpat  with  the  mighty  hair  in  his  head,  the  Identical,  he 
yelled,  and  fetched  Shagpat  a  slap  that  sent  him  into 
the  middle  of  the  street;  but  Kadza  screamed  after  him, 
and  there  was  immediately  such  lamentation  in  the  city 
about  Shagpat,  and  such  tearing  of  hair  about  him,  that  I 
perceived  at  once  the  virtue  that  was  in  the  Identical. 
As  for  Karaz,  finding  his  claim  as  possessor  of  the  Identical 
no  more  valid,  he  vanished,  and  has  been  my  rebellious 
slave  since,  till  thou,  0  my  betrothed,  mad'st  me  spend 
him  in  curing  thy  folly  on  the  horse  Garraveen,  and  he 
escaped  from  my  circles  beyond  the  dominion  of  the  Ring; 
yet  had  he  his  revenge,  for  I  that  was  keeper  of  the  Lily, 
had,  I  now  learned  ruefully,  a  bond  of  beauty  with  it,  and 
whatever  was  a  stain  to  one  withered  the  other.  Then 
that  sorceress  Goorelka  stole  my  beauty  from  me  by 
sprinkling  a  blight  on  the  petals  of  the  fair  flower,  and  I 
became  as  thou  first  saw'st  me.  But  what  am  I  as  I 
now  am?  BHssful!  blissful!  Surely  I  grew  humble  with 
the  loss  of  beauty,  and  by  humility  wise,  so  that  I  assisted 
Feshnavat  to  become  Vizier  by  the  Ring,  and  watched 
for  thy  coming  to  shave  Shagpat,  as  a  star  watcheth; 


176  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

for  'tis  written,  'A  barber  alone  shall  be  shearer  of  the 
Identical';  and  he  only,  my  betrothed,  hath  power  to 
plant  it  in  Akli.s,  where  it  groweth  as  a  pillar,  bringing  due 
reverence  to  Aklis. 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT  177 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT 

Now,  when  Noorna  bin  Noorka  had  made  an  end  of  her 
narration,  she  folded  her  hands  and  was  mute  awhile; 
and  to  the  ear  of  Shibli  Bagarag  it  seemed  as  if  a  sweet 
instrument  had  on  a  sudden  ceased  luting.  So,  as  he 
leaned,  listening  for  her  voice  to  recommence,  she  said 
quickly,  'See  yonder  fire  on  the  mountain's  height!' 

He  looked  and  saw  a  great  light  on  the  summit  of  a 
lofty  mountain  before  them. 

Then  said  she,  'That  is  Aklis!  and  it  is  ablaze,  know- 
ing a  visitant  near.  Tighten  now  the  hairs  of  Garraveen 
about  thy  wrist;  touch  thy  lips  with  the  waters  of  Paravid; 
hold  before  thee  the  Lily,  and  make  ready  to  enter  the 
mountain.  Lo,  my  betrothed,  thou  art  in  possession  of 
the  three  means  that  melt  opposition,  and  the  fault  is  thine 
if  thou  fail.' 

He  did  as  she  directed;  and  they  were  taken  on  a  tide 
and  advanced  rapidly  to  the  mountain,  so  that  the  waters 
smacked  and  crackled  beneath  the  shell,  covering  it  with 
silver  showering  arches  of  glittering  spray.  Then  the 
fair  beams  of  the  moon  became  obscured,  and  the  twain 
reddened  with  the  reflection  of  the  fire,  and  the  billows 
waxed  hke  riotous  flames;  and  presently  the  shell  rose 
upon  the  peak  of  many  waves  swollen  to  one,  and  looking 
below,  they  saw  in  the  scarlet  abyss  of  waters  at  their  feet 
a  monstrous  fish,  with  open  jaws  and  one  baleful  eye;  and 
the  fish  was  lengthy  as  a  caravan  winding  through  the 


178  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

desert,  and  covered  with  fiery  scales.  Shibli  Bagarag 
heard  the  voice  of  Noorna  shriek  affrightedly,  'Karaz!' 
and  as  they  were  sliding  on  the  down  slope,  she  stood  u])- 
right  in  the  shell,  j)ronouncing  rapidly  some  words  in 
magic ;  and  the  shell  closed  upon  them  both,  pressing  them 
together,  and  writing  darkness  on  their  very  eyeballs.  So, 
while  they  were  thus,  they  felt  themselves  gulped  in,  and 
borne  forward  with  terrible  swiftness,  they  knew  not  where, 
like  one  that  hath  a  dream  of  sinking;  and  outside  the 
shell  a  rushing,  gurgling  noise,  and  a  noise  as  of  shouting 
multitudes,  and  muffled  multitudes  muttering  complaints 
and  yells  and  querulous  cries,  told  them  they  were  yet 
speeding  through  the  body  of  the  depths  in  the  belly  of 
the  fish.  Then  there  came  a  shock,  and  the  shell  was 
struck  with  light,  and  they  were  sensible  of  stillness  without 
motion.  Then  a  blow  on  the  shell  shivered  it  to  fragments, 
and  they  were  blinded  with  seas  of  brilliancy  on  all  sides 
from  lamps  and  tapers  and  crystals,  cornelians  and  gems 
of  fiery  lustre,  liquid  lights  and  flashing  mirrors,  and  eyes 
of  crowding  damsels,  bright  ones.  So,  when  they  had 
risen,  and  could  bear  to  gaze  on  the  insufferable  splendour, 
they  saw  sitting  on  a  throne  of  coral  and  surrounded  by 
slaves  with  scimitars,  a  fair  Queen,  with  black  eyes,  kindlers 
of  storms,  torches  in  the  tempest,  and  with  floating  tresses, 
crowned  with  a  circlet  of  green-spiked  precious  stones 
and  masses  of  crimson  weed  with  flaps  of  pearl;  and  she 
was  robed  with  a  robe  of  amber,  and  had  saffron  sandals, 
loose  silvery-silken  trousers  tied  in  at  the  ankle,  the  ankle 
white  as  silver;  wonderful  was  the  ciuivering  of  rays 
from  the  jewels  upon  her  when  she  but  moved  a  finger! 
Now,  as  they  stood  with  their  hands  across  their  brows, 
she  cried  out,  '0  ye  traversers  of  my  sea!  how  is  this, 
that  I  am  made  to  thank  Karaz  for  a  sight  of  ye  ? ' 

And  Noorna  bin  Noorka  answered,  'Surely,  O  Queen 
Rabcsqurat,  the  haven  of  our  voyage  was  Aklis,  and  we 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT  179 

feared  delay,  seeing  the  fire  of  the  mountain  ablaze  with 
expectations  of  us.' 

Then  the  Queen  cried  angrily,  "Tis  well  thou  hadst 
wit  to  close  the  shell,  O  Nooma,  or  there  would  have 
been  delay  indeed.  Say,  is  not  the  road  to  AkHs  through 
my  palace?    And  it  is  the  road  thousands  travel.' 

So  Noorna  bin  Noorka  said,  '0  Queen,  this  do  they; 
but  are  they  of  them  that  reach  Aklis  ? ' 

And  the  Queen  cried  violently,  purpling  with  passion, 
'This  to  me!  when  I  helped  ye  to  the  plucking  of  the 
my?' 

Now,  the  Queen  muttered  an  imprecation,  and  called 
the  name  'Abarak!'  and  lo,  a  door  opened  in  one  of 
the  pillars  of  jasper  leading  from  the  throne,  and  there 
came  forth  a  little  man,  humped,  with  legs  like  bows, 
and  arms  reaching  to  his  feet;  in  his  hand  a  net  weighted 
with  leaden  weights.  So  the  Queen  levelled  her  finger 
at  Noorna,  and  he  spun  the  net  above  her  head,  and 
dropped  it  on  her  shoulder,  and  dragged  her  with  him  to 
the  pOlar.  When  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  that,  the  world 
darkened  to  him,  and  he  rushed  upon  Abarak;  but  Nooma 
called  swiftly  in  his  ear,  'Wait!  wait!  Thou  by  thy  spells 
art  stronger  than  all  here  save  Abarak.  Be  true!  Re- 
member the  seventh  pillar!'  Then,  with  a  spurn  from 
the  hand  of  Abarak,  the  youth  fell  back  senseless  at  the 
feet  of  the  Queen. 

Now,  with  the  return  of  consciousness  his  hearing 
was  bewitched  with  strange  delicious  melodies,  the  touch 
of  stringed  instruments,  and  others  breathed  into  softly 
as  by  the  breath  of  love,  delicate,  tender,  alive  with  enam- 
oured bashfulness.  Surely,  the  soul  that  heard  them 
dissolved  like  a  sweet  in  the  goblet,  mingling  with  so  much 
ecstasy  of  sound;  and  those  melodies  filling  the  white 
cave  of  the  ear  were  even  at  once  to  drown  the  soul  in 
dehghtfulness  and  buoy  it  with  bliss,  as  a  heavy-leaved 


180  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

flower  is  withered  and  refreshed  by  sun  and  dews.  Surely, 
the  youtli  co;ised  not  to  listen,  and  oblivion  of  cares  and 
aught  otiier  in  this  life,  save  that  hidden  luting  and  piping, 
pillowed  his  drowsy  head.  At  last  there  was  a  pause,  and 
it  seemed  every  maze  of  nmsic  had  been  wandered  through. 
Opening  his  eyes  hurriedly,  as  with  the  loss  of  the  music 
his  own  breath  had  gone  likewise,  he  beheld  a  garden  golden 
with  the  light  of  lamps  hung  profusely  from  branches  and 
twigs  of  trees  by  the  glowing  cheeks  of  fruits,  apple  and 
grape,  pomegranate  and  (quince;  and  he  was  reclining  on  a 
banJc  piled  with  [)urple  cushions,  his  limbs  clad  in  the  richest 
figured  silks,  fringed  like  the  ends  of  clouds  round  the 
sun,  with  amber  fruiges.  He  started  up,  striving  to  recall 
the  confused  memory  of  his  adventures  and  what  evil 
had  befallen  him,  and  he  would  have  struggled  with  the 
vision  of  these  glories,  but  it  mastered  him  with  the  strength 
of  a  potent  drug,  so  that  the  very  name  of  his  betrothed 
was  forgotten  by  him,  and  he  knew  not  whither  he  would, 
or  the  thing  he  wished  for.  Now,  when  he  had  risen  from 
the  soft  green  bank  that  was  his  couch,  lo,  at  his  feet  a 
damsel  weeping!  So  he  lifted  her  by  the  hand,  and  she 
arose  and  looked  at  him,  and  began  plaining  of  love  and 
its  tyrannies,  softening  him,  already  softened.  Then  said 
she,  '  What  I  suffer  there  is  another,  lovelier  than  I,  suffer- 
ing; thou  the  cause  of  it,  0  cruel  youth!' 

He  said,  'How,  0  damsel?  what  of  my  cruelty  ?  Surely, 
I  know  nothing  of  it.' 
But  she  exclaimed,  'Ah,  worse  to  feign  forgetfulness!' 
Now,  he  was  bewildered  at  the  words  of  the  damsel, 
and  followed  her  leading  till  they  entered  a  dell  in  the 
garden  canopied  with  foliage,  and  beyond  it  a  green  rise, 
and  on  the  rise  a  throne.  So  he  looked  earnestly,  and 
beheld  thereon  Queen  Rabesqurat,  she  sobbing,  her  dark 
hair  pouring  in  streams  from  the  crown  of  her  head.  See- 
ing him,  she  cleared  her  eyes,  and  advanced  to  meet  him 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT  181 

timidly  and  with  hesitating  steps;  but  he  shrank  from 
her,  and  the  Queen  shrieked  with  grief,  crying,  '  Is  there 
in  this  cold  heart  no  relenting  ? ' 

Then  she  said  to  him  winningly,  and  in  a  low  voice, 
'0  youth,  my  husband,  to  whom  I  am  a  bride!' 

He  marvelled,  saying,  'This  is  a  game,  for  indeed  I 
am  no  husband,  neither  have  I  a  bride  ...  yet  have 
I  confused  memory  of  some  betrothal  .  .  .  ' 

Thereupon  she  cried,  '  Said  I  not  so  ?  and  I  the  be- 
trothed.' 

Still  he  exclaimed,  'I  cannot  think  it!  Wullahy,  it 
were  a  wonder!' 

So  she  said,  'Consider  how  a  poor  youth  of  excellent 
proportions  came  to  a  flourishmg  Court  before  one,  a 
widowed  Queen,  and  she  cast  eyes  of  love  on  him,  and 
gave  him  rule  over  her  and  all  that  was  hers  when  he 
had  achieved  a  task,  and  they  were  wedded.  Oh,  the 
bliss  of  it!  Knit  together  with  bond  and  a  writing; 
and  these  were  the  dominions,  I  the  Queen,  woe  's  me! — 
thou  the  youth!' 

Now,  he  was  wiled  by  the  enchantments  of  the  Queen, 
caught  in  the  snare  of  her  beguilings;  and  he  let  her  lead 
him  to  a  seat  beside  her  on  the  throne,  and  sat  there  awhile 
in  the  midst  of  feastings,  mazed,  thinking,  'What  life 
have  I  Hved  before  this,  if  the  matter  be  as  I  behold  ? ' 
thinking,  "Tis  true  I  have  had  visions  of  a  widowed 
queen,  and  I  a  poor  youth  that  came  to  her  court,  and  es- 
poused her,  sitting  in  the  vacant  seat  beside  her,  ruling  a 
realm;  but  it  was  a  dream,  a  dream, — yet,  wah!  here  is  she, 
here  am  I,  yonder  my  dominions!'  Then  he  thought,  'I 
will  solve  it! '  So,  on  a  sudden  he  said  to  her  beside  him, '  O 
Queen,  sovereign  of  hearts!  enlighten  me  as  to  a  per- 
plexity. ' 

She  answered,  'The  voice  of  my  lord  is  music  in  the 
ear  of  the  bride.' 


182  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Then  said  he,  in  the  tone  of  one  doubting  reahties, 
'0  fair  Queen,  is  there  truly  now  such  a  one  as  Shagpat 
in  the  world  ? ' 

She  laughed  at  his  speech  and  the  puzzled  appearance 
of  his  visage,  repl>ing,  'Surely  there  liveth  one,  Shagi)at 
by  name  in  the  world;  strange  is  the  history  of  him,  his 
friends,  and  enemies;  and  it  would  bear  recital.' 

Then  he  said,  'And  one,  the  daughter  of  a  Vizier, 
Vizier  to  the  I^g  in  the  City  of  Shagpat  ? ' 

Thereat,  she  shook  her  head,  saying,  'I  know  nought 
of  that  one.' 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  was  mindful  of  his  thwackings; 
and  in  this  the  wisdom  of  Noorna  is  manifest,  that  the 
sting  of  them  yet  chased  away  doubts  of  illusion  regarding 
their  having  been,  as  the  poet  says. 

If  thou  wouldst  fix  remembrance — thwack! 

'Tis  that  oblivion  controls; 
I  care  not  if  't  be  on  the  back, 

Or  on  the  soles. 

He  thought,  'Wah!  yet  feel  I  the  thong,  and  the  hiss 
of  it  as  of  the  serpent  in  the  descent,  and  the  smack  of 
it  as  the  mouth  of  satisfaction  in  its  contact  with  tender 
regions.  This,  wullahy!  was  no  dream.'  Nevertheless, 
he  was  ashamed  to  allude  thereto  before  the  Queen,  and 
he  said,  '  0  my  mistress,  another  question,  one  only !  This 
Shagpat — is  he  shaved  ? ' 

She  said,  'Clean  shorn!' 

Quoth  he,  astonished,  grief-stricken,  with  drawn  lips, 
'  By  which  hand,  chosen  above  men  ? ' 

And  she  exclaimed,  '0  thou  witty  one  that  feignest 
not  to  know!  Wullahy!  by  this  hand  of  thine,  0  my 
lord  and  king,  daring  that  it  is;  dexterous!  surely  so! 
And  the  shaving  of  Shagpat  was  the  task  achieved, — I 
the  dower  of  it,  and  the  rich  reward.' 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT  183 

Now,  he  was  meshed  yet  deeper  in  the  net  of  her  subt- 
leties, and  by  her  calling  him  'lord  and  king';  and 
she  gave  a  signal  for  fresh  entertainments,  exhausting 
the  resources  of  her  art,  the  mines  of  her  wealth,  to  fas- 
cinate him.  Ravishments  of  design  and  taste  were  on 
every  side,  and  he  was  in  the  lap  of  abundance,  beguiled 
by  magic,  caressed  by  beauty  and  a  Queen.  Marvel  not 
that  he  was  dazzled,  and  imagined  himself  already  come 
to  the  great  things  foretold  of  him  by  the  readers  of  planets 
and  the  casters  of  nativities  in  Shiraz.  He  assisted  in 
beguiling  himself,  trusting  wilfully  to  the  two  witnesses 
of  things  visible;  as  is  declared  by  him  of  wise  sayings: 

There  is  in  every  wizard-net  a  hole. 

So  the  entangler  first  must  blind  the  soul. 

And  it  is  again  said  by  that  same  teacher: 

Ye  that  the  inner  spirit'^  sight  would  seal, 
Nought  credit  but  what  outward  orbs  reveal. 

And  the  soul  of  Shibli  Bagarag  was  blinded  by  Rabesqurat 
in  the  depths  of  the  Enchanted  Sea.  She  sang  to  him, 
luting  deliriously;  and  he  was  intoxicated  with  the  bliss- 
fulness  of  his  fortune,  and  took  a  lute  and  sang  to  her 
love- verses  in  praise  of  her,  rhyming  his  rapture.  Then 
they  handed  the  goblet  to  each  other,  and  drank  till  they 
were  on  fire  with  the  joy  of  things,  and  life  blushed  beau- 
teousness.  Surely,  Rabesqurat  was  becoming  forgetful  of 
her  arts  through  the  strength  of  those  draughts,  till  her 
eye  marked  the  Lily  by  his  side,  which  he  grasped  con- 
stantly, the  bright  flower,  and  she  started  and  said,  '  One 
grant,  0  my  King,  my  husband ! ' 

So  he  said  courteously,  'All  grants  are  granted  to  the 
lovely,  the  fascinating;  and  their  grief  will  be  lack  of 
aught  to  ask  for  ? ' 


184  THE  iSILVVING  OF  SIIAGPAT 

Then  said  she,  '0  my  husband,  my  King,  I  am  jealous 
of  that  silly  flower:  laugh  at  my  weakness,  but  fling 
it  from  thee.' 

Now,  he  was  about  to  cast  it  from  him,  when  a  vanity 
possessed  his  mind,  and  he  exclaimed,  'See  first  the  thing 
I  will  do,  a  wonder.' 

She  cried,  'No  wonders,  my  life!  I  am  sated  with 
them.' 

And  he  said,  '  I  am  obli\ious,  0  Queen,  of  how  I  came 
by  this  flower  and  this  phial;  but  thou  shalt  hear  a  thing 
beyond  the  power  of  common  magic,  and  see  that  I  am 
something.' 

Now,  she  ])lucked  at  him  to  abstain  from  his  action, 
but  he  held  the  phial  to  the  flower.  She  signed  impe- 
riously to  some  slaves  to  stay  his  right  wrist,  and  they 
seized  on  it;  but  not  all  of  them  together  could  withhold 
liim  from  dropping  a  drop  into  the  petals  of  the  flower,  and 
lo,  the  Lily  spake,  a  voice  from  it  like  the  voice  of  Noorna, 
saying,  'Remember  the  Seventh  Pillar.'  Thereat,  he 
lifted  his  e3'es  to  his  brows  and  frowned  back  memory  to 
his  aid,  and  the  scene  of  Karaz,  Ilabesqurat,  Abarak,  and 
his  betrothed  was  present  to  him.  So  perceiving  that, 
the  Queen  delayed  not  while  he  grasped  the  phial  to  take 
in  her  hands  some  water  from  a  basin  near,  and  flung  it 
over  him,  crying,  'Oblivion!'  And  while  his  mind  was 
straining  to  bring  back  images  of  what  had  happened,  he 
fell  forward  once  more  at  the  feet  of  Rabcsqurat,  senseless 
as  a  stone  falls;  such  was  the  force  of  her  enchantments. 

Now,  when  he  awoke  the  second  time  he  wa.s  in  the 
bosom  of  darkness,  and  the  Lily  gone  from  his  hand;  so 
he  lifted  the  phial  to  make  certain  of  that,  and  groped 
about  till  he  came  to  what  seemed  an  urn  to  the  touch, 
and  into  this  he  dropped  a  drop,  and  asked  for  the  Lily; 
and  a  voice  said,  'I  caught  a  light  from  it  in  passing.' 
And  he  came  in  the  darkness  to  a  tree,  and  a  bejewelled 


THE  WILES   OF  RABESQURAT  185 

bank,  and  other  urns,  and  swinging  lamps  without  light, 
and  a  running  water,  and  a  grassy  bank,  and  flowers, 
and  a  silver  seat,  sprinkling  each;  and  they  said  all  in 
answer  to  his  question  of  the  Lily,  'I  caught  a  light  from 
it  in  passmg.'  At  the  last  he  stumbled  upon  the  steps 
of  a  palace,  and  ascended  them,  endowing  the  steps  with 
speech  as  he  went,  and  they  said,  'The  light  of  it  went  over 
us.'  He  groped  at  the  porch  of  the  palace,  and  gave  the 
door  a  voice,  and  it  opened  on  jasper  hinges,  shrieking, 
'The  light  of  it  went  through  me.'  Then  he  entered  a 
spacious  hall,  scattering  drops,  and  voices  exclaimed, 
'We  glow  with  the  light  of  it.'  He  passed,  groping  his 
way  through  other  halls  and  dusk  chambers,  scattering 
drops,  and  as  he  advanced  the  voices  increased  in  the 
fervour  of  their  replies,  saying  sequently:  'We  blush  w^th 
the  hght  of  it;  We  beam  with  the  Hght  of  it;  We  burn  wdth 
the  light  of  it.'  So,  presently  he  found  himself  in  a  long 
low  room,  sombrely  lit,  roofed  with  crystal^;  and  in  a 
corner  of  the  room,  lo!  a  damsel  on  a  couch  of  purple,  she 
white  as  silver,  spreading  radiance.  Of  such  lustrous 
beauty  was  she  that  beside  her,  the  Princess  Goorelka  as 
Shibli  Bagarag  first  beheld  her,  would  have  paled  like  a 
morning  moon;  even  Noorna  had  waned  as  doth  a  flower 
in  fierce  heat;  and  the  Queen  of  Enchantments  was  but 
the  sun  behind  a  sand-storm,  in  comparison  with  that 
effulgent  damsel  on  the  length  of  the  purple  couch.  Well 
for  him  he  wist  of  the  magic  which  floated  through  that 
palace;  as  is  said, 

Tempted  by  extremes, 

The  soul  is  most  secure; 
Too  vivid  loveliness  blinds  with  its  beams, 
And  eyes  turned  inward  perceive  the  lure. 

Pulling  down  his  turban  hastily,   he  stepped  on  tiptoe 
to  within  arm's  reach  of  her,  and,  looking  another  way. 


ISG  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

inclined  over  her  soft  vermeil  mouth  the  phial  slowly 
till  it  brimmed  the  neck,  and  dropped  a  drop  of  Paravid 
between  the  bow  of  those  sweet  lips.  Still  not  daring 
to  ^aze  on  her,  he  said  then,  'My  question  js  of  the  Lily, 
the  Lily  of  the  Sea,  and  where  is  it,  0  marvel  ?' 

And  he  heard  a  voice  answer  in  the  tones  of  a  silver 
bell,  clear  as  a  wind  in  strung  wires,  'Where  I  lie,  lies 
the  Lily,  the  Lily  of  the  Sea;  I  with  it,  it  with  me.' 

Said  he,  '0  breather  of  music,  tell  me  how  I  may  lay 
hand  on  the  flower  of  beauty  to  bear  it  forth.' 

And  he  heard  the  voice,  'An  equal  space  betwixt  my 
right  side  and  my  left,  and  from  the  shoulder  one  span 
and  half  a  span  downward.' 

Still  without  power  to  eye  her,  he  measured  the  space 
and  the  spans,  his  hand  beneath  the  coverlids  of  the 
couch,  and  at  a  spot  of  the  bosom  his  hand  sank  in,  and 
he  felt  a  fluttering  thing,  fluttering  like  a  frighted  bird 
in  the  midst  of  the  fire.  And  the  voice  said,  'Quick, 
seize  it,  and  draw  it  out,  and  tie  it  to  my  feet  by  the  twines 
of  red  silk  about  it.' 

He  seized  it  and  drew  it  out,  and  it  was  a  heart — 
a  heart  of  blood  —  streaming  with  crimson,  palpitating. 
Tears  flashed  on  his  sight  beholding  it,  and  pity  took 
the  seat  of  fear,  and  he  turned  his  eyes  full  on  her,  crying, 
'0  sad  fair  thing!  O  creature  of  anguish!  0  painful 
beauty !     Oh,  what  have  I  done  to  thee  ? ' 

But  she  panted,  and  gasped  short  and  shorter  gasps, 
pointing  with  one  finger  to  her  feet.  Then  he  took  the 
warm  living  heart  while  it  yet  leapt  and  (juivered  and 
sobbed;  and  he  held  it  with  a  trembling  hand,  and  tied 
it  by  the  red  twines  of  silk  about  it  to  her  feet,  staining 
their  wiiitencss.  When  that  was  done,  his  whole  soul 
melted  with  pity  and  swelled  with  sorrow,  and  ere  he  could 
meet  her  eyes  a  swoon  overcame  him.  Surely,  when  the 
world  dawned  to  him  a  third  time  in  those  regions  the 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT  187 

damsel  was  no  longer  there,  but  in  her  place  the  Lily  of 
Light.  He  thought,  'It  was  a  vision,  that  damsel!  a  ter- 
rible one;  one  to  terrify  and  bewilder!  a  bitter  sweetness! 
Oh,  the  heart,  the  heart ! '  Reflecting  on  the  heart  brought 
to  his  lids  an  overcharging  of  tears,  and  he  wept  \dolently 
awhile.  Then  was  he  warned  by  the  thought  of  his  be- 
trothed to  take  the  Lily  and  speed  with  it  from  the  realms 
of  Rabesqurat;  and  he  stole  along  the  halls  of  the  palace, 
and  by  the  plashing  fountains,  and  across  the  magic  courts, 
passing  chambers  of  sleepers,  fair  dreamers,  and  through 
ante-rooms  crowded  with  thick-lipped  slaves,  Lo,  as  he 
held  the  Lily  to  light  him  on,  and  the  light  of  the  Lily 
fell  on  them  that  were  asleep,  they  paled  and  shrank,  and 
were  such  as  the  death-chill  maketh  of  us.  So  he  called 
upon  his  head  the  protection  of  AUah,  and  went  swifter, 
to  chase  from  his  limbs  the  shudder  of  awe;  and  there 
were  some  that  slept  not,  but  stared  at  him  with  fixed  eyes, 
eyes  frozen  by  the  light  of  the  Lily,  and  he  shunned  those, 
for  they  were  like  spectres,  haunting  spirits.  After  he  had 
coursed  the  length  of  the  palace,  he  came  to  a  steep  place 
outside  it,  a  rock  with  steps  cut  in  stairs,  and  up  these  he 
went  till  he  came  to  a  small  door  in  the  rock,  and  lying  by 
it  a  bar;  so  he  seized  the  bar  and  smote  the  door,  and  the 
door  shivered,  for  on  his  right  wrist  were  the  hairs  of  Gar- 
raveen.  Bending  his  body,  he  slipped  through  the  opening, 
and  behold,  an  orchard  dropping  blossoms  and  ripe  golden 
fruits,  streams  flowing  through  it  over  sands,  and  brooks 
bounding  above  glittering  gems,  and  long  dewy  grasses, 
profusion  of  scented  flowers,  shade  and  sweetness.  So  he 
let  himself  down  to  the  ground,  which  was  an  easy  leap 
from  the  aperture,  and  walked  through  the  garden,  holding 
the  Lily  behind  him,  for  here  it  darkened  all,  and  the  glow- 
ing orchard  was  a  desert  by  its  light.  Presently,  his  eye  fell 
on  a  couch  swinging  between  two  almond  trees,  and 
advancing  to  it  he  beheld  the  black-eyed  Queen  gathered 


188  THE  SILWING   OF  SHAGPAT 

up,  foldotl  temptingly,  like  a  swaving  fruit;  she  with  the 
gold  circlet  on  her  head,  and  she  was  fair  as  blossom  of 
the  almond  in  a  breeze  of  the  wafted  rose-leaf.  Sweetly 
was  she  gathered  up,  folded  temptingly,  and  Shibli  Bag- 
arag  refrained  from  using  the  Lily,  thinking,  "Tis  like 
the  great  things  foretold  of  me,  this  having  of  Queens 
within  the  very  grasp,  swinging  to  and  fro  as  if  to  taunt 
backwardness!'  Then  he  thought,  "Tis  an  enchantress! 
I  will  yet  try  her.'  So  he  made  a  motion  of  flourish- 
ing the  Lily  once  or  twice,  but  forbore,  fascinated,  for 
she  had  on  her  fair  face  the  softness  of  sleep,  her  lips  closed 
in  dimples,  and  the  wicked  fire  shut  from  beneath  her  lids. 
Mastering  his  mind,  the  youth  at  last  held  the  Lily  to  her, 
and  saw  a  sight  to  blacken  the  world  and  all  bright  things 
with  its  hideousness.  Scarce  had  he  time  to  thrust  the 
Lily  in  his  robes,  when  the  Queen  started  up  and  clapped 
her  hands,  crying  hurriedly,  'Abarak!  Abarak!'  and  the 
little  man  appeared  in  a  moment  at  the  door  by  which 
Shibli  Bagarag  had  entered  the  orchard.  So,  she  cried 
still,  'Abarak!'  and  he  moved  toward  her.  Then  she 
said,  'IIow  came  this  youth  here,  prying  in  my  private 
walks,  my  bowers  ?   Speak ! ' 

He  answered,  'By  the  aid  of  Garraveen  only,  O  Queen! 
and  there  is  no  force  resisteth  the  bar  so  wielded.' 

Rabesqurat  looked  under  her  brows  at  Shibli  Bagarag 
and  saw  the  horror  on  his  face,  and  she  cried  out  to  Abarak 
in  an  agony,  'Fetch  me  the  mirror!'  Then  Abarak  ran, 
and  returned  ere  the  Queen  had  drawn  seven  impatient 
breaths,  and  in  one  hand  he  bore  a  sack,  in  the  other  a 
tray:  so  he  emptied  the  contents  of  the  sack  on  the  surface 
of  the  tray;  surely  they  were  human  eyes!  and  the  Queen 
flung  aside  her  tresses,  and  stood  over  them.  The  youth 
saw  her  smile  at  them,  and  assume  tender  and  taunting 
manners  before  them,  and  imperious  manners,  killing 
glances,  till  in  each  of  the  eyes  there  was  a  sparkle.    Then 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT  189 

she  flung  back  her  head  as  one  that  feedeth  on  a  mighty 
triumph,  exclaiming,  'Yet  am  I  Rabesqurat!  wide  is  my 
sovereignty.'  Sideways  then  she  regarded  ShibU  Bagarag, 
and  it  seemed  she  was  urging  Abarak  to  do  a  deed  beyond 
his  powers,  he  frowning  and  pointing  to  the  right  wrist 
of  the  youth.  So  she  clenched  her  hands  an  instant  with 
that  feeling  which  knocketh  a  nail  in  the  coffin  of  a  desire 
not  dead,  and  controlled  herself,  and  went  to  the  youth, 
breaking  into  beams  of  beauty;  and  an  enchanting  sumptu- 
ousness  breathed  round  her,  so  that  in  spite  of  himself 
he  suffered  her  to  take  him  by  the  hand  and  lead  him  from 
that  orchard  through  the  shivered  door  and  into  the  palace 
and  the  hall  of  the  jasper  pillars.  Strange  thrills  went 
up  his  arm  from  the  touch  of  that  Queen,  and  they  were 
as  little  snakes  twisting  and  darting  up,  biting  poison-bites 
of  irritating  blissfulness. 

Now,  the  hall  was  spread  for  a  feast,  and  it  was  hung 
with  lamps  of  silver,  strewn  with  great  golden  goblets, 
and  viands,  coloured  meats,  and  ordered  fruits  on  shining 
platters.  Then  said  she  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  '0  youth! 
there  shall  be  no  deceit,  no  guile  between  us.  Thou  art 
but  my  guest,  I  no  bride  to  thee,  so  take  the  place  of  the 
guest  beside  me.' 

He  took  his  seat  beside  her,  Abarak  standing  by,  and 
she  helped  the  youth  to  this  dish  and  that  dish,  from  the 
serving  of  slaves,  caressing  him  with  flattering  looks  to 
starve  aversion  and  nourish  tender  fellowship.  And  he 
was  like  one  that  slideth  down  a  hill  and  can  arrest  his 
descent  with  a  foot,  yet  faileth  that  freewill.  When  he  had 
eaten  and  drunk  with  her,  the  Queen  said,  'O  youth,  no 
other  than  my  guest !  art  thou  not  a  prince  in  the  country 
thou  comest  from  ? ' 

In  a  moment  the  pride  of  the  barber  forsook  him,  and 
he  equivocated,  saying,  '0  Queen!  there  is  among  the 
stars  somewhere,  as  was  divined  by  the  readers  of  planets, 


190  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

a  crown  hanging  for  me,  and  I  search  a  point  of  earth  to 
intercept  its  fall.' 

She  marked  him  beguiled  by  vanity,  and  put  sweet- 
meats to  his  mouth,  exclaiming,  'Thy  manners  be  those 
of  a  prince!'  Then  she  sang  to  him  of  the  loneliness 
of  her  life,  and  of  one  with  w^hom  she  wished  to  share 
her  state, — such  as  he.  And  at  her  signal  came  troops  of 
damsels  that  stood  in  rings  and  luted  sweetly  on  the  same 
theme — the  Queen's  loneliness,  her  love.  And  he  said 
to  the  Queen,  '  Is  this  so? ' 

She  answered,  '  Too  truly  so ! ' 

Now,  he  thought,  'She  shall  at  least  speak  the  thing 
that  is,  if  she  look  it  not.'  So  he  took  the  goblet,  and 
contrived  to  drop  a  drop  from  the  phial  of  Paravid  therein 
without  her  observing  him ;  and  he  handed  her  the  goblet, 
she  him ;  and  they  drank.  Surely,  the  change  that  came 
over  the  Queen  was  an  enchantment,  and  her  eyes  shot 
lustre,  her  tongue  was  loosed,  and  she  laughed  like  one 
intoxicated,  lolling  in  her  seat,  lost  to  majesty  and  the  sway 
of  her  magic,  crying,  'O  Abarak!  Abarak!  little  man,  long 
my  slave  and  my  tool;  ugly  little  man!  And  O  Shibli 
Bagarag!  nephew  of  the  barber!  weak  youth!  small  prince 
of  the  tackle!  have  I  not  nigh  fascinated  thee?  And  thou 
wilt  forfeit  those  two  silly  eyes  of  thine  to  the  sack.    And, 

0  Abarak,  Abarak!  little  man,  have  I  flattered  thee?  So 
fetter  I  the  strong  with  my  allurements!  and  I  stay  the 
arrow  in  its  flight!  and  I  blunt  the  barb  of  high  intents! 
Wah!    I  have  drunk  a  potent  stuff;   I  talk!     Wullahy! 

1  know  there  is  a  danger  menacing  Shagpat,  and  the 
eyes  of  all  Genii  are  fixed  on  him.  And  if  he  be  shaved, 
what  changes  will  follow!  But  'tis  in  me  to  delude  the 
barber,  wullahy!  and  I  will  avert  the  calamity.  I  will 
gave  Shagj)at!' 

While  the  Queen  Rabesqurat  prated  in  this  wise  with 
flushed  face,  Shibli  Bagarag  was  smitten  with  the  great- 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT  191 

ness  of  his  task,  and  reproached  his  soul  with  neglect 
of  it.  And  he  thought,  '  I  am  powerful  by  spells  as  none 
before  me  have  been,  and  'twas  by  my  weakness  the  Queen 
sought  to  tangle  me.  I  will  clasp  the  Seventh  Pillar  and 
make  an  end  of  it,  by  Allah  and  his  Prophet  (praised  be  the 
name!),  and  I  will  reach  Aklis  by  a  short  path  and  shave 
Shagpat  with  the  sword.' 

So  he  looked  up,  and  Abarak  was  before  him,  the  lifted 
nostrils  of  the  little  man  wide  with  the  flame  of  anger. 
And  Abarak  said,  'O  youth,  regard  me  with  the  eyes  of 
judgement!  Now,  is  it  not  frightful  to  rate  me  little? — 
an  instigation  of  the  evil  one  to  repute  me  ugly  ? ' 

The  promptings  of  wisdom  counselled  Shibh  Bagarag 
to  say,  'Frightful  beyond  contemplation,  O  Abarak!  one 
to  shame  our  species!  Surely,  there  is  a  moon  between 
thy  legs,  a  pear  upon  thy  shoulders,  and  the  cock  that 
croweth  is  no  match  for  thee  in  measure.' 

Abarak  cried,  'We  be  aggrieved,  we  two!  0  youth, 
son  of  my  uncle,  I  will  give  thee  means  of  vengeance; 
give  thou  me  means.' 

Shibh  Bagarag  felt  scorn  at  the  Queen,  and  her  hollow- 
ness,  and  he  said,  "Tis  well;  take  this  Lily  and  hold  it 
to  her.' 

Now,  the  Queen  jeered  Abarak,  and  as  he  approached 
her  she  shouted,  'What!  thou  small  of  build!  mite 
of  creation!  sour  mixture!  thou  puppet  of  mine!  thou! 
comest  thou  to  seek  a  second  kiss  against  the  compact, 
knowing  that  I  give  not  the  well-favoured  of  mortals  be- 
yond one,  a  second?' 

Little  delayed  Abarak  at  this  to  put  her  to  the  test 
of  the  Lily,  and  he  held  the  flower  to  her,  and  saw  the 
sight,  and  staggered  back  like  one  stricken  with  a  shaft. 
When  he  could  get  a  breath  he  uttered  such  a  howl  that 
Rabesqurat  in  her  drunkenness  was  fain  to  save  her  ears, 
and  the  hall  echoed  as  with  the  bellows  of  a  thousand 


192  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

beasts  of  the  forest.  Tlien,  to  glut  his  revenge  he  ran 
for  the  sack,  and  emptied  the  contents  of  it,  the  Queen's 
mirror,  before  her;  and  the  sackful  of  eyes,  they  saw  the 
sight,  and  sickened,  rolling  their  whites.  That  done, 
Abarak  gave  Shibli  Bagarag  the  bar  of  iron,  and  bade 
him  smite  the  pillars,  all  save  the  seventh;  and  he  smote 
them  strengthily,  crumbling  them  at  a  blow,  and  bring- 
ing down  the  great  hall  and  its  groves,  and  glasses  and 
gems,  lamps,  traceries,  devices,  a  heap  of  ruin,  the  seventh 
pillar  alone  standing.  Then,  while  he  pumped  back  breath 
into  his  body,  Abarak  said,  'There's  no  delaying  in  this 
place  now,  0  youth!  Say,  hast  thou  spells  for  the  enter- 
ing of  Aklis?' 

He  answered,  'Three!' 

Then  said  Abarak,  "Tis  well!  Surely  now,  if  thou 
takest  me  in  thy  ser\'ice,  I'll  help  thee  to  master  the  Ev^ent, 
and  serve  thee  faithfully,  requiring  nought  from  thee 
save  a  sight  of  the  Event,  and  'tis  I  that  myself  missed  one, 
wiled  by  Rabes(|urat.' 

Quoth  Shibli  liagarag,  'Thou?' 

He  answered,  'No  word  of  it  now.    Is't  agreed?' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  'Even  so.' 

Thereupon,  the  twain  entered  the  pillar,  leaving  Rabes- 
qurat  prone,  and  the  waves  of  the  sea  bounding  toward 
her  where  she  lay.  Now,  they  descended  and  ascended 
flights  of  shppcry  steps,  and  sped  together  along  murky 
passages,  in  which  light  never  was,  and  under  arches  of 
caves  with  hanging  crystals,  groping  and  tumbling  on 
hurriedly,  till  they  came  to  an  obstruction,  and  felt  an 
iron  door,  frosty  to  the  touch.  Then  Abarak  said  to 
Shibli  Bagarag,  'Smite!'  And  the  youth  lifted  the  bar 
to  his  right  shoulder,  and  smote;  and  the  door  obeyed 
the  blow,  and  discovered  an  opening  into  a  strange  dusky 
land,  as  it  seemed  a  valley,  on  one  side  of  which  was  a 
ragged  copper  sun  setting  low,  large  as  a  warrior's  battered 


5^ 


THE  WILES  OF  RABESQURAT  193 

shield,  giving  deep  red  lights  to  a  brook  that  fell,  and  over 
a  flat  stream  a  red  reflection,  and  to  the  sides  of  the  hills  a 
dark  red  glow.  The  sky  was  a  brown  colour;  the  earth  a 
deeper  brown,  like  the  skins  of  tawny  lions.  Trees  with 
reddened  stems  stood  about  the  vaUey,  scattered  and  in 
groups,  showing  between  their  leaves  the  cheeks  of  mel- 
ancholy fruits  swarthily  tinged,  and  toward  the  centre  of 
the  valley  a  shining  palace  was  visible,  supported  by  mas- 
sive columns  of  marble  reddened  by  that  copper  sun.  Shibli 
Bagarag  was  awed  at  the  stillness  that  hung  everywhere, 
and  said  to  Abarak,  '  Where  am  I,  0  Abarak  ?  the  look 
of  this  place  is  fearful ! ' 

And  the  little  man  answered,  'Where,  but  beneath 
the  mountains  in  Aklis  ?  Wullahy!  I  should  know  it, 
I  that  keep  the  passage  of  the  seventh  pillar!' 

Then  the  thought  of  his  betrothed  Noorna,  and  her 
beauty,  and  the  words,  'Remember  the  seventh  pillar,' 
struck  the  heart  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  he  exclaimed 
passionately,  '  Is  she  in  safety  ?  Noorna,  my  companion, 
my  betrothed,  netted  by  thee,  0  Abarak!' 

Abarak  answered  sharply,  'Speak  not  of  betrothals  in 
this  place,  or  the  sword  of  Aklis  will  move  without  a  hand!' 

But  Shibli  Bagarag  waxed  the  colour  of  the  sun  that 
was  over  them,  and  cried,  'By  Allah!  I  will  smite  thee 
with  the  bar,  if  thou  swear  not  to  her  safety,  and  point 
not  out  to  me  where  she  now  is.' 

Then  said  Abarak,  'Thou  wilt  make  a  better  use  of 
the  bar  by  lifting  it  to  my  shoulder,  and  poising  it,  and 
peering  through  it.' 

Shibli  Bagarag  lifted  the  bar  to  the  shoulder  of  Abarak, 
and  poised  it,  and  peered  through  the  length  of  it,  and 
lo!  there  was  a  sea  tossing  in  tumult,  and  one  pillar  stand- 
ing erect  in  the  midst  of  the  sea;  and  on  the  pillar,  above 
the  washing  waves,  with  hair  blown  back,  and  flapping 
raiment,    pale   but   smiling  still,  Noorna,  his  betrothed! 


194  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Now,  when  he  saw  her,  he  made  a  rush  to  the  door  of  the 
passage;  but  Abarak  blocked  the  way,  crying,  'Fool!  a 
step  backward  in  Aklis  is  death!' 

And  when  he  had  wrestled  with  him  and  reined  him, 
Abarak  said,  'Haste  to  reach  the  Sword  from  the  sons 
of  Aklis,  if  thou  wouldst  save  her.' 

He  drew  him  to  the  brink  of  the  stream,  and  whistled 
a  parrot's  whistle;  and  Shibli  Bagarag  beheld  a  boat 
draped  with  drooping  white  lotuses  that  floated  slowly 
toward  them;  and  when  it  was  near,  he  and  Abarak 
entered  it,  and  saw  one,  a  veiled  figure,  sitting  in  the 
stern,  who  neither  moved  to  them  nor  spake,  but  steered 
the  boat  to  a  certain  point  of  land  across  the  stream, 
v.'hcrc  stood  an  elephant  ready  girt  for  travellers  to  mount 
him;  and  the  elephant  kneeled  among  the  reeds  as  they 
ap{)roached,  that  they  might  mount  him,  and  when  they 
had  each  taken  a  seat,  moved  off,  waving  his  trunk.  Pres- 
ently the  elephant  came  to  a  halt,  and  went  upon  his  knees 
again,  and  the  two  slid  off  his  back,  and  were  among  black 
slaves  that  bowed  to  the  ground  before  them,  and  led 
them  to  the  shining  gates  of  the  palace  in  silence.  Now, 
on  the  first  marble  step  of  the  palace  there  sat  an  old  white- 
headed  man  dressed  like  a  dervish,  who  held  out  at  arm's 
length  a  branch  of  gold  with  golden  singing-birds  between 
its  leaves,  saying,  'This  for  the  strongest  of  ye!' 

Abarak  exclaimed,  'I  am  that  one';  and  he  held  forth 
his  hand  for  the  branch. 

But  Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  'Nay,  'tis  mine.  Wullahy, 
what  has  not  the  strength  of  this  hand  overthrown  ? ' 

Then  the  brows  of  Abarak  twisted;  his  limbs  twitched, 
and  he  bawled,  'To  the  proof!'  waking  all  the  echoes  of 
Aklis.  Shibli  Bagarag  was  tempted  in  his  desire  for  the 
golden  branch  to  lift  the  iron  bar  upon  Abarak,  when 
lo!  the  phial  of  Paravid  fell  from  his  vest,  and  he  took  it 
and  sprinkled  a  portion  of  the  waters  over  the  singing- 


THE  WILES  OF   RABESQURAT  195 

birds,  and  in  a  moment  they  burst  into  a  sweet  union  of 
voices,  singing,  in  the  words  of  the  poet: 

When  for  one  serpent  were  two  asses  match? 

How  shall  one  foe  but  with  wiles  master  double? 

So  let  the  strong  keep  for  ever  good  watch, 

Lest  their  strength  prove  a  snare,  and  themselves  a  mere 

bubble; 
For  vanity  maketh  the  strongest  most  weak, 
As  lions  and  men  totter  after  the  struggle. 
Ye  heroes,  be  modest!    while  combats  ye  seek, 
The  cunning  one  trippeth  ye  both  with  a  juggle. 

Now,  at  this  verse  of  the  birds  Shibli  Bagarag  fixed 
his  eye  on  the  old  man,  and  the  beard  of  the  old  man 
shrivelled;  he  waxed  in  size,  and  flew  up  in  a  blaze  and 
with  a  baffled  shout  bearing  the  branch;  surely,  his  fea- 
tures were  those  of  Karaz,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  knew  him 
by  the  length  of  his  limbs,  his  stiff  ears,  and  copper  skin. 
Then  he  laughed  a  loud  laugh,  but  Abarak  sobbed,  saying, 
'  By  this  know  I  that  I  never  should  have  seized  the  Sword, 
even  though  I  had  vanquished  the  illusions  of  Rabesqurat, 
which  held  me  fast  half-way.' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  stared  at  him,  and  said,  'Wert  thou 
also  a  searcher,  0  Abarak  ? ' 

But  Abarak  cried,  'Rouse  not  the  talkative  tongue 
of  the  past,  0  youth!  Wullahy!  relinquish  the  bar  that 
is  my  bar,  won  by  me,  for  the  Sword  is  within  thy  grip, 
and  they  await  thee  up  yonder  steps.  Go!  go!  and  look 
for  me  here  on  thy  return.' 


196  THE  SHAVLXG  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE  PALACE  OF  AKLIS 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  assured  himself  of  his  three  spells, 
and  made  his  heart  resolute,  and  hastened  up  the  reddened 
marble  steps  of  the  Palace;  and  when  he  was  on  the 
topmost  step,  lo!  one  with  a  man's  body  and  the  head 
of  a  buffalo,  that  prostrated  himself,  and  prayed  the 
youth  obsequiously  to  enter  the  palace  with  the  title 
of  King.  So  Shibli  Bagarag  held  his  head  erect,  and 
followed  him  with  the  footing  of  a  Sultan,  and  passed 
into  a  great  hall,  with  fountains  in  it  that  were  fountains 
of  gems,  pearls,  chrysolites,  thousand-hued  jewels,  and 
by  the  margin  of  the  fountains  were  shapes  of  men  with 
the  heads  of  beasts — wolves,  foxes,  lions,  bears,  oxen, 
sheep,  serpents,  asses, — that  stretched  their  hands  to 
the  falls,  and  loaded  their  vestments  with  brilliants, 
loading  them  without  cessation,  so  that  from  the  vest- 
ments of  each  there  was  another  pouring  of  the  liquid 
lights.  Then  he  with  the  buffalo's  head  bade  Shibli  Bag- 
arag help  himself  from  the  falls;  but  Shibli  Bagarag 
refused,  for  his  soul  was  with  Noorna,  his  betrothed; 
and  he  saw  her  pale  on  that  solitary  pillar  in  the  tumult 
of  the  sea,  and  knew  her  safety  depended  on  his  faithful- 
ness. 

He  cried,  'The  Sword  of  Aklis!  nought  save  the 
Sword!' 

Now,  at  these  words  the  fox-heads  and  the  sheep- 
heads  and  the  ass-heads  and  the  other  heads  of  beasts 


THE  PALACE  OF  AKLIS  197 

were  lifted  up,  and  lo!  they  put  their  hands  to  their  ears, 
and  tapped  their  foreheads  with  the  finger  of  reflection, 
as  creatures  seeking  to  bring  to  mind  a  serious  matter. 
Then  the  fountains  rose  higher,  and  flung  jets  of  radiant 
jewels,  and  a  drenching  spray  of  gems  upon  them,  and 
new  thirst  aroused  them  to  renew  their  gulping  of  the 
falls,  and  a  look  of  eagerness  was  even  in  the  eyes  of  the 
ass-heads  and  the  silly  sheep-heads;  surely,  Shibli  Bag- 
arag  laughed  to  see  them!  Now,  when  he  had  pressed 
his  lips  to  recover  his  sight  from  the  dazzling  of  those 
wondrous  fountains,  he  heard  himself  again  addressed 
by  the  title  of  King,  and  there  was  before  him  a  lofty 
cock  with  a  man's  head.  So  he  resumed  the  majesty 
of  his  march,  and  followed  the  fine-stepping  cock  into 
another  hall,  spacious,  and  clouded  with  heavy  scents 
and  perfumes  burning  in  censers  and  urns,  musk,  myrrh, 
ambergris,  and  livelier  odours,  gladdening  the  nostril 
like  wine,  making  the  soul  reel  as  with  a  draught  of  the 
forbidden  drink.  Here,  before  a  feast  that  would  prick 
the  dead  with  appetite,  were  shapes  of  beasts  with  heads 
of  men,  asses,  elephants,  bulls,  horses,  swine,  foxes,  river- 
horses,  dromedaries;  and  they  ate  and  drank  as  do  the 
famished  with  munch  and  gurgle,  clacking  their  lips 
joyfully.  Shibli  Bagarag  remembered  the  condition 
of  his  frame  when  first  he  looked  upon  the  City  of  Shag- 
pat,  and  was  incited  to  eat  and  accede  to  the  invitation 
of  the  cock  with  the  man's  head,  and  sit  among  these  merry 
feeders  and  pickers  of  mouth-watering  morsels,  when, 
with  the  City  of  Shagpat,  lo!  he  had  a  vision  of  Shag- 
pat,  hairier  than  at  their  interview,  arrogant  in  hairiness; 
his  head  remote  in  contemptuous  waves  and  curls  and 
frizzes,  and  bushy  protuberances  of  hair,  lost  in  it,  like 
an  idolatrous  temple  in  impenetrable  thickets.  Then  the 
yearning  of  the  Barber  seized  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  desire 
to  shear  Shagpat  was  as  a   mighty  overwhelming  wave 


198  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

in  his  bosom,  and  he  shouted,  'The  Sword  of  Aklis! 
nought  save  the  Sword!" 

Now,  at  these  words  the  beasts  with  men's  heads 
wagged  their  tails,  all  of  them,  from  right  to  left,  and 
kept  their  jaws  from  motion,  staring  stupidly  at  the 
dishes;  but  the  dishes  began  to  send  forth  stealthy 
steams,  insidious  whispers  to  the  nose,  silver  intimations 
of  savouriness,  so  that  they  on  a  sudden  set  up  a  howl, 
and  Shibli  Bagarag  puckered  his  garments  from  them  as 
from  devouring  dogs,  and  hastened  from  that  hall  to  a 
third,  where  at  the  entrance  a  damsel  stood  that  smiled 
to  him,  and  led  him  into  a  vast  marbled  chamber,  forty 
cubits  high,  hung  with  draperies,  and  in  it  a  hundred 
doors;  and  he  was  in  the  midst  of  a  very  rose-garden 
of  young  beauties,  such  as  the  Blest  behold  in  Paradise, 
robed  in  the  colours  of  the  rising  and  setting  sun;  plump, 
with  long,  black,  languishing,  almond-shaped  eyes,  and 
undulating  figures.  So  they  cried  to  him,  '  What  greeting, 
O  our  King  ? ' 

Now,  he  counted  twenty  and  seven  of  them,  and,  fitting 
his  gallantry  to  verse,  answered : 

Poor  are  the  heavens  that  have  not  ye 

To  swell  their  glowing  plenty; 
Up  there  but  one  bright  moon  I  see, 

Here  mark  I  scven-and-twenty. 

The  damsels  laughed  and  flung  back  their  locks  at  his 
flattery,  sporting  with  him;  and  he  thought,  'These  be 
sweet  maidens!  I  will  know  if  they  be  illusions  like  Rabes- 
qurat';  so,  as  they  were  romping,  he  slung  his  right 
arm  round  one,  and  held  the  Lily  to  her,  but  there  was 
no  change  in  her  save  that  she  winked  somewhat  and 
her  eyes  watered ;  and  it  was  so  with  tlic  others,  for  when 
they  saw  him  hold  the  Lily  to  one  they  made  him  do  so  to 
them  likewise.     Then  he  took  the  phial,   and  touched 


THE   PALACE   OF   AKLIS  199 

their  lips  with  the  waters,  and  lo!  they  commenced  lut- 
ing and  laughing,  and  singing  verses,  and  prattling,  laugh- 
ing betweenwhiles  at  each  other;  and  one,  a  noisy  one, 
with  long,  black,  unquiet  tresses,  and  a  curved  foot  and 
roguish  ankle,  sang  as  she  twirled: 

My  heart  is  another's,  I  cannot  be  tender; 
Yet  if  thou  storm  it,  I  fain  must  surrender. 

And  another,  a  fresh-cheeked,  fair-haired,  full-eyed  dam- 
sel, strong  upon  her  instep  and  stately  in  the  bearing  of 
her  shoulders,  sang  shrilly: 

I'm  of  the  mountains,  and  he  that  comes  to  me 
Like  eagle  must  win,  and  like  hurricane  woo  me. 

And  another,  reclining  on  a  couch  buried  in  dusky  silks, 
like  a  butterfly  under  the  leaves,  a  soft  ball  of  beauty, 
sang  moaningly: 

Here  like  a  fruit  on  the  branch  am  I  swaying; 
Snatch  ere  I  fall,  love!   there's  death  in  delaying. 

And  another,  light  as  an  antelope  on  the  hills,  with  ante- 
lope eyes  edged  with  kohl,  and  timid,  graceful  movements, 
and  small,  white,  rounded  ears,  sang  clearly: 

Swiftness  is  mine,  and  I  fly  from  the  sordid; 
Follow  me,  follow!   and  you'll  be  rewarded. 

And  another,  with  large  limbs  and  massive  mould,  that 
stepped  like  a  cow  leisurely  cropping  the  pasture,  and 
shook  with  jewels  amid  her  black  hair  and  above  her 
brown  eyes,  and  round  her  white  neck  and  her  wrists, 
and  on  her  waist,  even  to  her  ankle,  sang  as  with  a  kiss 
upon  every  word : 

Sweet  'tis  in  stillness  and  bliss  to  be  basking! 
He  who  would  have  me,  may  have  for  the  asking. 


200  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

And  another,  with  eyebrows  like  a  bow,  and  arrows  of 
fire  in  her  eyes,  and  two  rosebuds  her  full  moist  parted 
pouting  lips,  sang,  clasping  her  hands,  and  voiced  like 
the  tremulous  passionate  bulbul  in  the  shadows  of  the 
moon: 

Love  is  my  life,  and  with  love  I  live  only; 
Give  me  life,  lover,  and  leave  me  not  lonely. 

And  a  seventh,  a  very  beam  of  beauty,  and  the  perfection 
of  all  that  is  imagined  in  fairness  and  ample  grace  of 
expression  and  proportion,  lo!  she  came  straight  to  Shibli 
Bagarag,  and  took  him  by  the  hand  and  pierced  him  with 
lightning  glances,  singing: 

Were  we  not  destined  to  meet  by  one  planet? 
Can  a  fate  sever  us? — can  it,  ah!   can  it? 

And  she  sang  tender  songs  to  him,  mazing  him  with  blan- 
dishments, so  that  the  aim  of  existence  and  the  summit 
of  ambition  now  seemed  to  him  the  life  of  a  king  in  that 
palace  among  the  damsels;  and  he  thought,  'Wah!  these 
be  no  illusions,  and  they  speak  the  thing  that  is  in  them. 
Wullahy,  loveliness  is  their  portion;   they  call  me  King.' 

Then  she  that  had  sung  to  him  said,  'Surely  we  have 
been  waiting  thee  long  to  crown  thee  our  King!  Thou 
hast  been  in  some  way  delayed,  0  glorious  one!' 

And  he  answered,  '0  fair  ones,  transcending  in  affa- 
bility, I  have  stumbled  upon  obstructions  in  my  jour- 
ney hither,  and  I  have  met  with  adventures,  but  of  this 
crowning  that  was  to  follow  them  I  knew  nought.  Wul- 
lahy, thrice  have  I  been  saluted  King;  I  whom  fate 
selecteth  for  the  shaving  of  Shagpat,  and  till  now  it  was 
a  beguilement,  all  emptiness.' 

They  marked  his  bewildered  state,  and  some  knelt 
before  him,  some  held  their  arms  out  adoringly,  some 
leaned  to  him  with  glistening  looks,  and  he  was  fast  falling 


THE  PALACE  OF  AKLIS  201 

a  slave  to  their  flatteries,  succumbing  to  them;  imagina- 
tion fired  him  with  the  splendours  due  to  one  that  was 
a  king,  and  the  thought  of  wearing  a  crown  again  took 
possession  of  his  soul,  and  he  cried,  'Crown  me,  O  my 
handmaidens,  and  delay  not  to  crown  me;  for,  as  the 
poet  says: 

"The  king  without  his  crown 
Hath  a  forehead  like  the  clown"; 

and  the  circle  of  my  head  itcheth  for  the  symbols  of  maj- 
esty.' 

At  these  words  of  Shibli  Bagarag  they  arose  quickly 
and  clapped  their  hands,  and  danced  with  the  nimble 
step  of  gladness,  exclaiming,  'O  our  King!  pleasant 
will  be  the  time  with  him!'  And  one  smoothed  his  head 
and  poured  oil  upon  it;  one  brought  him  garments  of 
gold  and  silk  inwoven;  one  fetched  him  slippers  like 
the  sun's  beam  in  brightness;  others  stood  together  in 
clusters,  and  with  lutes  and  wood-instruments,  low-toned, 
singing  odes  to  him;  and  lo!  one  took  a  needle  and  threaded 
it,  and  gave  the  thread  into  the  hands  of  Shibli  Bagarag, 
and  with  the  point  of  the  needle  she  pricked  certain  letters 
on  his  right  wrist,  and  afterwards  pricked  the  same  letters 
on  a  door  in  the  wall.  Then  she  said  to  him,  '  Is  it  in  thy 
power  to  make  those  letters  speak  ?' 

He  answered,  'We  will  prove  how  that  may  be.' 
So  he  flung  some  drops  from  the  phial  over  the  letters, 
and  they  glowed  the  colour  of  blood  and  flashed  with 
a  report,  and  it  was  as  if  a  fiery  forked-tongue  had  darted 
before  them  and  spake  the  words  written,  and  they  were, 
'This  is  the  crown  of  him  who  hath  achieved  his  aim  and 
resteth  here.'  Thereupon,  she  stuck  the  needle  in 
the  door,  and  he  pulled  the  thread,  and  the  door  drew 
apart,  and  lo!  a  small  chamber,  and  on  a  raised  cushion  of 
blue  satin  a  glittering  crown,  thick  with  jewels  as  a  frost, 


202  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

such  as  Ambition  piiieth  to  wear,  and  the  knees  of  men 
weaken  and  bend  beliolding,  and  it  lanced  hghts  about  it 
like  a  Hving  sun.  Beside  the  cushion  was  a  vacant  throne, 
radiant  as  morning  in  the  East,  al)hize  with  device^s  in 
gold  and  gems,  a  seat  to  fill  the  meanest  soul  with  sensa- 
tions of  majesty  and  tempt  dervishes  to  the  sitting  posture. 
Shibli  Bagarag  was  intoxicated  at  the  sight,  and  he  thought, 
'Wah!  but  if  I  sit  on  this  throne  and  am  a  king,  with 
that  crown  I  can  command  men  and  things!  and  I  have 
but  to  say.  Fetch  Noorna,  my  betrothed,  from  yonder 
pillar  in  the  midst  of  the  uproarious  sea! — Let  the  hairy 
Shagpat  be  shaved!  and  behold,  slaves,  thousands  of  them, 
do  my  bidding!  Wullahy,  this  is  greatness!'  Now, 
he  made  a  rush  to  the  throne,  but  the  damsels  held  him 
back,  crjing,  'Not  for  thy  life  till  we  have  crowned  thee, 
O  our  master  and  lord!' 

Then  they  took  the  crown  and  crowned  him  with  it; 
and  he  sat  upon  the  throne  calmly,  serenely,  like  a  Sultan 
of  the  great  race  accustomed  to  sovereignty,  tempering 
the  awfulncss  of  his  brows  with  benignant  glances.  So, 
while  he  sat  the  damsels  hid  their  faces  and  started  some 
paces  from  him,  as  unable  to  bear  the  splendour  of  his 
presence,  and  in  a  moment,  lo!  the  door  closed  between 
him  and  them,  and  he  was  in  darkness.  Then  he  heard  a 
voice  of  the  damsels  cry  in  the  hall,  'The  ninety  and  ninth! 
Peace  now  for  us  and  blissfulness  with  our  lords,  for  now 
all  are  filled  save  the  door  of  the  Sword,  which  maketh 
the  hundredth.'  After  that  he  heard  the  same  voice  say, 
'Leave  them,  O  my  sisters!' 

So  he  listened  to  the  noise  of  their  departing,  and  knew 
he  had  been  duped.  Surely  his  soul  cursed  him  as  he  sat 
crowned  and  throned  in  that  darkness!  He  seized  the 
crown  to  dash  it  to  the  earth,  but  the  crown  was  fixed 
on  his  forehead  and  would  not  come  off;  neither  had  he  force 
to  rise  from  the  throne.     Now,  the  thought  of  Noorna,  his 


THE  PALACE  OF  AKLIS  203 

betrothed,  where  she  rested  waiting  for  him  to  deliver  her, 
filled  Shibli  Bagarag  with  the  extremes  of  anguish;  and  he 
lifted  his  right  arm  and  dashed  it  above  his  head  in  the 
violence  of  his  grief,  striking  in  the  motion  a  hidden  gong 
that  gave  forth  a  burst  of  thunder  and  a  roll  of  bellowings, 
and  lo!  the  door  opened  before  him,  and  the  throne  as  he 
sat  on  it  moved  out  of  the  chamber  into  the  hall  where  he 
had  seen  the  damsels  that  duped  him,  and  on  every  side  of 
the  hall  doors  opened;  and  he  marvelled  to  see  men,  old 
and  young,  beardless  and  venerable,  sitting  upon  thrones 
and  crowned  with  crowns,  motionless,  with  eyes  like  stones 
in  the   recesses.      He  thought,   'These  be  other  dupes! 
Wullahy!  a  drop  of  the  waters  of  Para\dd  upon  their  lips 
might  reveal  mysteries,  and  guide  me  to  the  Sword  of  my 
seeking."     So,  as  he  considered  how  to  get  at  them  from 
the  seat  of  his  throne,  his  gaze  fell  on  a  mirror,  and  he  be- 
held the  crown  on  his  forehead  what  it  was,  bejewelled 
asses'  ears  stiffened  upright,  and  skulls  of  monkeys  grinning 
with  gems!    The  sight  of  that  crowning  his  head  convulsed 
Shibli  Bagarag  with  laughter,  and,  as  he  laughed,  his  seat 
upon  the  throne  was  loosened,  and  he  pitched  from  it,  but 
the  crown  stuck  to  him  and  was  tenacious  of  its  hold  as 
the  Hon  that  pounceth  upon  a  victim.     He  bowed  to  the 
burden  of  necessity,  and  took  the  phial,  and  touched  the 
lips  of  one  that  sat  crowned  on  a  throne  with  the  waters  in 
the  phial;   and  it  was  a  man  of  exceeding  age,  whitened 
with  time,  and  in  the  long  sweep  of  his  beard  like  a  moun- 
tain clad  with  snow  from  the  peak  that  is  in  the  sky  to  the 
base  that  slopeth  to  the  valley.    Then  he  addressed  the 
old  man  on  his  throne,  saying,  'Tell  me,  0  King!    how 
camest  thou  here  ?  and  in  search  of  what  ? ' 

The  old  man's  lips  moved,  and  he  muttered  in  deep 
tones,  '  When  cometh  he  of  the  ninety-and-ninth  door? ' 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  cried,  'Surely  he  is  before  thee,  in 
Aklis.' 


204  THE  ,SIIAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

And  the  old  man  said,  'Let  him  ask  no  secrets;  but 
when  he  hath  reached  the  Sword  forget  not  to  flash  it  in 
this  hall,  for  the  sake  of  brotherhood  in  adventure.' 

After  that  he  would  answer  no  word  to  any  questioning. 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS  205 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  thought,  'The  poet  is  right  in  Aklis 
as  elsewhere,  in  his  words: 

"The  cunning  of  our  oft-neglected  wit 
Doth  best  the  keyhole  of  occasion  fit"; 

and  whoso  looketh  for  help  from  others  looketh  the  wrong 
way  in  an  undertaking.  Wah!  I  will  be  bold  and  batter 
at  the  hundredth  door,  which  is  the  door  of  the  Sword.' 
So  he  advanced  straightway  to  the  door,  which  was  one  of 
solid  silver,  charactered  with  silver  letters,  and  knocked 
against  it  three  knocks;  and  a  voice  within  said,  'What 
spells?' 

He  answered,  'Paravid;  Garraveen;  and  the  Lily  of 
the  Sea!' 

Upon  that  the  voice  said,  'Enter  by  virtue  of  the  spells!' 
and  the  silver  door  swung  open,  discovering  a  deep  pit, 
lightened  by  a  torch,  and  across  it,  bridging  it,  a  string  of 
enormous  eggs,  rocs'  eggs,  hollowed,  and  so  large  that  a 
man  might  walk  through  them  without  stooping.  At  the 
side  of  each  egg  three  lamps  were  suspended  from  a  claw, 
and  the  shell  passage  was  illumined  with  them  from  end  to 
end.  Shibli  Bagarag  thought,  'These  eggs  are  of  a  surety 
the  eggs  of  the  Roc  mastered  by  Aklis  with  his  sword!' 
Now,  as  the  sight  of  Shibli  Bagarag  grew  familiar  to  the 
place,  he  beheld  at  the  bottom  of  the  pit  a  fluttering  mass 
of  blackness  and  two  sickly  eyes  that  glittered  below. 


206  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Then  thought  ho,  '^Vah!  if  that  bo  the  Roc,  and  it  not 
dead,  will  the  bird  suffer  one  to  defile  its  eggs  with  other 
than  the  sole  of  the  foot,  naked?'  He  undid  his  sandals 
and  kicked  off  the  slii)i)ers  given  him  by  the  damsels  that 
had  duped  him,  and  went  jnto  the  first  egg  over  the  abyss, 
and  into  the  second,  and  into  the  third,  and  iiito  the  fourth, 
and  into  the  fifth.  Surely  the  eggs  swung  with  him,  and 
bent;  and  the  fear  of  their  breaking  and  he  falling  into  the 
maw  of  the  terribk;  bird  made  him  walk  unevenly.  When 
he  had  come  to  the  seventh  egg,  which  was  the  last,  it 
shook  and  swung  violently,  and  he  heard  underneath  the 
flapj)ing  of  the  wings  of  the  Roc,  as  with  eagerness  expect- 
ing a  victim  to  prey  upon.  He  sustained  his  soul  with  the 
finnness  of  resolve  and  darted  himself  lengthwise  to  the 
landing,  clutching  a  hold  with  his  right  hand;  as  he  did  so, 
the  bridge  of  eggs  broke,  and  he  heard  the  feathers  of  the 
bird  in  agitation,  and  the  bird  screaming  a  scream  of  dis- 
appointment as  he  scrambled  up  the  sides  of  the  pit. 

Now,  Shibli  Bagarag  failed  not  to  perform  two  prostra- 
tions to  Allah,  and  raised  the  song  of  gratitude  for  his 
preservation  when  he  found  himself  in  safety.  Then  he 
looked  up,  and  lo!  behind  a  curtain,  steps  leading  to  an 
anteroom,  and  beyond  that  a  chamber  like  the  chamber 
of  kings  where  they  sit  in  state  dispensing  judgements, 
like  the  sun  at  noon  in  splendour;  and  in  the  chamber 
seven  youths,  tall  and  comely  young  men,  calm  as  princes 
in  their  port,  each  one  dressed  in  flowing  robes,  and  with  a 
large  glowing  pearl  in  the  front  of  their  turbans.  They 
advanced  to  meet  him,  saying,  'Welcome  to  Aklis,  thou 
that  art  proved  worthy!  'Tis  holiday  now  with  us'; 
and  they  took  him  by  the  hand  and  led  him  with  them  in 
silence  past  fountain-jets  and  porphyry  pillars  to  where  a 
service  with  refreshments  was  spread, — meats,  fowls  with 
rice,  sweetmeats,  preserves,  palateable  mixtures,  and  monu- 
ments of  the  cook's  art,  goblets  of  wine  like  liquid  rubies. 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS  207 

Then  one  of  the  youths  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  'Thou  hast 
come  to  us  crowned,  O  our  guest!  Now,  it  is  not  our  cus- 
tom to  pay  homage,  but  thou  shalt  presently  behold  them 
that  will,  so  let  not  thy  kingliness  droop  with  us,  but  feast 
royally.' 

And  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  '0  my  princes,  surely  it  is  a 
silly  matter  to  crown  a  mouse!  Humility  hath  depressed 
my  stature!  WuUahy,  I  have  had  warning  in  the  sticking 
of  this  crown  to  my  brows,  and  it  sticketh  like  an  abomina- 
tion.' 

They  laughed  at  him,  saying,  'It  was  the  heaviness  of 
that  crown  which  overweighted  thee  in  the  bridge  of  the 
abyss,  and  few  be  they  that  bear  it  and  go  not  to  feed  the 
Roc' 

Now,  they  feasted  together,  interchanging  civilities, 
offering  to  each  other  choice  morsels,  dainties.  And  the 
anecdotes  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  his  simplicity  and  his  honesty, 
and  his  vanity  and  his  airiness,  and  the  betraying  tongue 
of  the  barber,  diverted  the  youths;  and  they  plied  him 
with  old  wine  till  his  stores  of  merriment  broke  forth  and 
were  as  a  river  swollen  by  torrents  of  the  mountain;  and 
the  seven  youths  laughed  at  him,  spluttering  with  laughter, 
lurching  with  it.  Surely,  he  described  to  them  the  loquac- 
ity of  Baba  Mustapha  his  uncle,  and  they  laughed  so  that 
their  chins  were  uppermost;  but  at  his  mention  of  Shagpat 
greater  gravity  was  theirs,  and  they  smoothed  their  faces 
solemnly,  and  the  sun  of  their  merriment  was  darkened  for 
awhile.  Then  they  took  to  flinging  about  pellets  of  a 
sugared  preparation,  and  reciting  verses  in  praise  of  jovial 
living,  challenging  to  drink  this  one  and  that  one,  passing 
the  cup  with  a  stanza.  Shibli  Bagarag  thought,  'What  a 
life  is  this  led  by  these  youths!  a  fair  one!  'Tis  they  that 
be  the  sons  of  Aklis  who  sharpen  the  Sword  of  Events;  yet 
live  they  in  jollity,  skimming  from  the  profusion  of  abun- 
dance that  which  floateth!' 


208  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Now,  markiiifz;  him  contemplative,  one  of  the  youths 
shouted,  'The  Kui;^  lacketh  homage!' 

And  another  called,  'Admittance  for  his  people!' 

Then  the  seven  arose  and  placed  Shibli  Bagarag  on  an 
elevation  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  lo!  a  troop  of  black 
slaves  leading  by  the  collar,  asses,  and  by  a  string,  monkeys. 
Now,  for  the  asses  they  brayed  to  the  Evil  One,  and  the 
monkeys  were  prankish,  pulling  against  the  string,  till  they 
caught  sight  of  Shibli  Bagarag.  Then  was  it  as  if  they  had 
been  awe-stricken;  and  they  came  forward  to  him  with 
docile  steps,  eyeing  the  crown  on  his  head,  and  prostrated 
themselves,  the  asses  and  the  monkeys,  like  creatures  in 
whom  glowed  the  lamp  of  reason  and  the  gift  of  intelligence. 
So  Shibli  Bagarag  drooped  his  jaw  and  was  ashamed,  and 
he  cried, ' 0  my  princes!  am  I  a  King  of  these ? ' 

They  answered,  'A  King  in  mightiness!  Sultan  of  a 
race!' 

So  he  said,  '  It  is  certain  I  shall  need  physic  to  support 
such  a  sovereignty!  And  I  must  be  excused  liberal  allow- 
ances of  old  wine  to  sit  in  state  among  them.  Wullahy! 
they  were  best  gone  for  awhile.  Send  them  from  me,  0 
my  princes!     I  sicken.' 

And  he  called  to  the  animals,  'Away!  begone!'  frown- 
ing. 

Then  said  the  youths,  'Well  commanded!  and  like  a 
King!    See,  they  troop  from  thy  presence  obediently.' 

Now  the  animals  fled  from  before  the  brows  of  Shibli 
Bagarag,  and  when  the  chamber  was  empty  of  them  the 
seven  young  men  said,  'Of  a  surety  thou  wert  flattered  to 
observe  the  aspect  of  these  animals  at  beholding  thee.' 

But  he  cried,  'Not  so,  0  my  princes;  there  is  nought 
flattering  in  the  homage  of  asses  and  monkeys.' 

Then  they  said,  'O  Sultan  of  asses,  ruler  of  monkeys, 
better  that  than  thyself  an  ass  and  an  ape!  As  was  said 
by  Shah  Kasirwan,  "1  prefer  bemg  king  of  beasts  wor- 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS  209 

shipped  by  beasts,  rather  than  a  crowned  beast  worshipped 
by  men";  and  it  was  well  said.  WuUahy!  the  kings  of 
Roum  quote  it.' 

Now  Shibli  Bagarag  was  not  rendered  oblivious  of  the 
Sword  of  his  quest  by  the  humour  of  these  youths,  or  the 
wine-bibbings,  and  he  exclaimed  whUe  they  were  turning 
up  the  heels  of  their  cups,  *  0  ye  sons  of  Aklis,  know  that  I 
have  come  hither  for  the  Sword  sharpened  by  your  hands, 
for  the  releasing  of  my  betrothed,  Noorna  bin  Noorka, 
daughter  of  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  and  for  the  Shaving  of 
Shagpat.' 

While  he  was  proceeding  to  recount  the  story  of  his 
search  for  the  Sword,  they  said,  'Enough,  0  potentate 
of  the  braying  class  and  of  the  scratching  tribe!  we  have 
seen  thee  through  the  eye  of  Aklis  since  the  time  of  thy 
first  thwacking.     What  says  the  poet? — 

"A  day  for  toil  and  a  day  for  rest 
Gives  labour  zeal,  and  pleasure  zest." 

So,  of  thy  seeking  let  us  hear  to-morrow;  but  now  drink 
with  us,  and  make  merry,  and  touch  the  springs  of  memory ; 
spout  forth  verses,  quaint  ones,  suitable  to  the  hour  and 
the  entertainment.  Wullahy!  drink  with  us!  taste  life! 
Let  the  humours  flow.' 

Then  they  made  a  motion  to  some  slaves,  and  presently 
a  clattering  of  anklets  struck  the  ear  of  Shibli  Bagarag: 
and  he  beheld  dancing-girls,  moons  of  beauty  and  ele- 
gance, and  they  danced  wild  dances,  and  dances  graceful 
and  leopard-like  and  serpent-hke  in  movement;  and  the 
youths  flung  flowers  at  them,  applauding  them.  Then 
came  other  sets  of  dancers  even  lovelier,  more  languishing; 
and  again  others  with  tambourines  and  musical  instru- 
ments, that  sang  ravishingly.  So  the  senses  of  Shibli 
Bagarag  were  all  taken  with  what  he  saw  and  heard,  and 
ate  and  drank;    and  by  degrees  a  mist  came  before  his 


210  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

eyes,  and  the  sweet  sounds  and  voices  of  the  girls  grew 
distant,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  he  kept  his  back  from 
the  length  of  the  cushions  that  were  about  him.  Then 
he  thought  of  Noorna,  and  that  she  sang  to  him  and 
danced,  and  when  he  rose  to  embrace  her  she  was  Rabes- 
(jurat  by  the  light  of  the  Lily!  And  he  thought  of  Shag- 
pat,  and  that  in  shaving  him  the  blade  was  checked  in  its 
rapid  sweep,  and  blunted  by  a  stumpy  twine  of  hair  that 
waxed  in  size  and  became  the  head  of  Karaz  that  gulped 
at  him  a  wide  devouring  gulp,  and  took  him  in,  and  flew 
up  with  him,  leaving  Shagpat  half  sheared.  Then  he 
thought  himself  struggling  halfway  down  the  throat  of 
the  monstrous  Roc,  and  that,  when  he  was  wholly  inside 
the  Roc,  he  was  in  a  wide-arched  passage  crowded  with 
lamps,  and  at  the  end  of  the  passage  Noorna  in  the  clutch 
of  Karaz,  she  shouting,  'The  Sword,  the  Sword!' 

Now,  while  he  felt  for  the  Sword  wherewith  to  release 
her  from  the  Genie,  his  eyes  opened,  and  he  saw  day 
through  a  casement,  and  that  he  had  reposed  on  an  em- 
broidered couch  in  the  corner  of  a  stately  room  ornamented 
with  carvings  of  blue  and  gold.  So  while  he  wondered 
and  yawned,  gaping,  slaves  started  up  from  the  floor  and 
led  him  to  a  bath  of  coloured  marble,  and  bathed  him  in 
])erfumed  waters,  and  dressed  him  in  a  dress  of  yellow  silk, 
rich  and  ample.  Then  they  paraded  before  him  through 
lesser  apartments  and  across  terraces,  till  they  came  to  a 
great  hall ;  loftier  and  more  spacious  than  any  he  had  yet 
beheld,  with  fountains  at  the  two  ends,  and  in  the  centre 
a  tree  with  golden  spreading  branches  and  leaves  of  gold; 
among  the  leaves  gold-feathered  birds,  and  fruits  of  all 
seasons  and  every  description — the  drooping  grape  and 
the  pleasant-smelling  quince,  and  the  blood-red  pome- 
granate, and  the  apricot,  and  the  green  and  rosy  apple, 
and  the  gummy  date,  and  the  oily  pistachio-nut,  and 
peaches,  and  citrons,  and  oranges,  and  the  plum,  and  the 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS  211 

fig.  Surely,  they  were  countless  in  number,  melting  with 
ripeness,  soft,  full  to  bursting;  and  the  birds  darted 
among  them  like  sun-flashes.  Now,  Shibli  Bagarag 
thought,  'This  is  a  wondrous  tree!  Wullahy!  there  is 
nought  like  it  save  the  tree  in  the  hall  of  the  Prophet  in 
Paradise,  feeding  the  faithful!'  As  he  regarded  it  he 
heard  his  name  spoken  in  the  hall,  and  turning  he  beheld 
seven  youths  in  royal  garments,  that  were  like  the  youths 
he  had  feasted  with,  and  yet  unlike  them,  pale,  and  stern 
in  their  manners,  their  courtesy  as  the  courtesy  of  kings. 
They  said,  '  Sit  with  us  and  eat  the  morning's  meal,  O  our 
guest!' 

So  he  sat  with  them  under  the  low  branches  of  the  tree; 
and  they  whistled  the  tune  of  one  bird  and  of  another  bird, 
and  of  another,  and  lo!  those  different  birds  flew  down 
with  golden  baskets  hanging  from  their  bills,  and  in  the 
baskets  fruits  and  viands  and  sweetmeats,  and  cool  drinks. 
And  Shibli  Bagarag  ate  from  the  baskets  of  the  birds, 
watching  the  action  of  the  seven  youths  and  the  difference 
that  was  in  them.  He  sought  to  make  them  recognise 
him  and  acknowledge  their  carouse  of  the  evening  that 
was  past,  but  they  stared  at  him  strangely  and  seemed 
offended  at  the  allusion,  neither  would  they  hear  mention 
of  the  Sword  of  his  seeking.  Presently,  one  of  the  youths 
stood  upon  his  feet  and  cried,  "The  time  for  kings  to  sit 
in  judgement!" 

And  the  youths  arose  and  led  Shibli  Bagarag  to  a  hall 
of  ebony,  and  seated  him  on  the  upper  seat,  themselves 
standing  about  him;  and  lo!  asses  and  monkeys  came 
before  him,  complaining  of  the  injustice  of  men  and  their 
fellows,  in  brays  and  bellows  and  hoots.  Now,  at  the  sight 
of  them  again  Shibli  Bagarag  was  enraged,  and  he  said  to 
the  youths,  'How!  do  ye  not  mock  me,  O  masters  of  Aklis!' 

But  they  said  only,  'The  burden  of  his  crown  is  for  the 
King.' 


212  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

He  cooled,  thinking,  'I  will  use  a  spell.'  So  he  touched 
the  lips  of  an  animal  with  the  waters  of  Paravid,  and  the 
animal  prated  volubly  in  our  language  of  the  kick  this 
ass  had  given  him,  and  the  jibe  of  that  monkey,  and  of 
his  desire  of  litigation  with  such  and  such  a  beast  for  pas- 
ture; and  the  others  when  they  spake  had  the  same  com- 
plaints to  make.  Shibli  Bagarag  listened  to  them  gravely, 
and  it  was  revealed  to  him  that  he  who  ruleth  over  men 
hath  a  labour  and  duties  of  hearing  and  judging  and  dis- 
peiLsing  judgement  similar  to  those  of  him  who  ruleth  over 
apes  and  asses.  Then  said  he,  '0  youths,  my  princes! 
methinks  the  sitting  in  this  seat  giveth  a  key  to  secret 
sources  of  wisdom;  and  I  see  what  it  is,  the  glory  and  the 
exaltation  coveted  by  men.'  Now,  he  took  from  the 
asses  and  the  monkeys  one,  and  said  to  it,  'Be  my  chief 
Vizier,'  and  to  another,  'Be  my  Chamberlain!'  and  to 
another,  'Be  my  Treasurer!'  and  so  on,  till  a  dispute 
arose  between  the  animals,  and  jealousy  of  each  other  was 
visible  in  their  glances,  and  they  appealed  to  him  clamor- 
ously.    So  he  said,  '  What  am  I  to  ye  ? ' 

They  answered,  'Our  King!' 

And  he  said,  '  How  so? ' 

They  answered,  'By  the  crowning  of  the  brides  of 
Aklis.' 

Then  he  said,  'What  be  ye,  0  my  subjects?' 

They  aaswered,  'Men  that  were  searchers  of  the  Sword 
and  plunged  into  the  tank  of  temptation.' 

And  he  said,  '  How  that  ? ' 

They  answered,  'By  the  lures  of  vanity,  the  blinding 
of  amljition,  and  tasting  the  gall  of  the  Roc' 

So  Shiljli  Bagarag  leaned  to  the  seven  youths,  saying, 
'O  my  princes,  but  for  not  tasting  the  gall  of  the  Roc  I 
might  be  as  one  of  these.  WuUahy!  I  the  King  am 
warned  by  base  creatures.'  Then  he  said  to  the  animals, 
'  Have  ye  still  a  longing  for  the  crown  ? ' 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS  213 

And  they  cried,  all  of  them,  '  0  light  of  the  astonished 
earth,  we  care  for  nought  other  than  it.' 

So  he  said,  'And  is  it  known  to  ye  how  to  dispossess 
the  wearer  of  his  burden  ? ' 

They  answered,  'By  a  touch  of  the  gall  of  the  Roc  on 
his  forehead.' 

Then  he  lifted  his  arms,  crying,  'Hie  out  of  my  pres- 
ence! and  whoso  of  ye  fetcheth  a  drop  of  the  gall,  with 
that  one  will  I  exchange  the  crown.' 

At  these  words  some  moved  hastily,  but  the  most  fal- 
tered, as  doubting  and  incredulous  that  he  would  propose 
such  an  exchange;  and  one,  an  old  monkey,  sat  down  and 
crossed  his  legs,  and  made  a  study  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  as 
of  a  sovereign  that  held  forth  a  deceiving  bargain.  But 
he  cried  again,  'Hie  and  haste!  as  my  head  is  now  cased 
I  think  it  not  the  honoured  part.' 

Then  the  old  monkey  arose  with  a  puzzled  look,  half 
scornful,  and  made  for  the  door  slowly,  turning  his  head 
toward  Shibli  Bagarag  betweenwhiles  as  he  went,  and 
scratching  his  lower  limbs  with  the  mute  reflectiveness 
of  age  and  extreme  caution. 

Now,  when  they  were  gone,  Shibli  Bagarag  looked  in 
the  eyes  of  the  seven  youths,  and  saw  they  were  content 
with  him,  and  his  countenance  was  brightened  with  ap- 
proval. So  he  descended  from  his  seat,  and  went  with 
them  from  the  hall  of  ebony  to  a  court  where  horses  were 
waiting  saddled,  and  slaves  with  hawks  on  their  wrists 
stood  in  readiness;  and  they  mounted  each  a  horse,  but 
he  loitered.  The  seven  youths  divined  his  feeling,  and 
cried  impatiently,  'Come!  no  lingering  in  Aklis!'  So  he 
mounted  likewise,  and  they  emerged  from  the  palace,  and 
entered  the  hills  that  glowed  under  the  copper  sun,  and 
started  a  milk-white  antelope  with  ruby  spots,  and  chased 
it  from  its  cover  over  the  sand-hills,  a  hawk  being  let  loose 
to  worry  it  and  distress  its  timid  beaming  eyes.     When 


2U  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

the  creature  was  quite  overcome,  one  of  the  youths  struck 
his  heel  into  his  horse's  side  and  flung  a  noose  over  the  head 
of  the  quarry,  and  drew  it  with  them,  gently  petting  it  the 
way  home  to  the  palace.  At  the  gates  of  the  palace  it  was 
released,  and  lo!  it  went  up  the  steps,  and  passed  through 
the  halls  as  one  familiar  with  them.  Now,  when  they  were 
all  assembled  in  the  anteroom  of  the  hall,  where  Shibli 
Bagarag  had  first  seen  the  seven  youths,  sons  of  Aklis,  in 
their  joUity,  one  of  them  said  to  the  Antelope,  'We  have 
need  of  thee  to  speak  a  word  with  Aklis,  O  our  sister!' 

So  the  same  youth  requested  the  use  of  the  phial  of 
Para\id,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  applied  it  carefully,  tenderly, 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Antelope.  Then  the  Antelope  spake  in 
a  silver-ringing  voice,  sa}ing, '  What  is  it,  0  my  brothers  ? ' 

They  answered,  'Thou  knowest  we  dare  not  attempt 
interchange  of  speech  wdth  Aklis,  seeing  that  we  disobeyed 
him  in  visiting  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth:  so  it  is  for  thee 
to  question  him  as  to  the  object  of  this  youth,  and  it  is 
the  Shaving  of  Shagpat.' 

So  she  said,  '  'Tis  weU;  I  wot  of  it.' 

Then  she  advanced  to  the  curtain  concealing  the  abyss 
of  the  Roc  and  the  bridge  of  its  eggs,  and  went  behind  it. 
There  was  a  pause,  and  they  heard  her  say  presently  in  a 
grave  voice,  toned  with  reverence,  'How  is  it,  0  our 
father  ?  is  it  a  good  thing  that  thy  Sword  be  in  use  at  this 
season? ' 

And  they  heard  the  Voice  answer  from  a  depth,  '  'Twere 
well  it  rust  not!' 

They  heard  her  say,  '0  our  father  Aklis,  and  we  wish 
to  know  if  the  Shaving  of  Shagpat  be  held  in  favour  by 
thee,  and  thou  sanction  it  with  thy  Sword.' 

And  they  heard  the  Voice  answer,  'The  Shaving  of 
Shagpat  is  my  Sword  alone  e(iual  to,  and  he  that  shaveth 
him  performeth  a  service  to  mankind  ranking  next  my 
vanquishing  of  the  Roc' 


THE  SONS  OF  AKLIS  215 

Then  they  heard  her  say,  'And  it  is  thy  will  we  teach 
him  the  mysteries  of  the  Sword,  and  that  which  may  be 
done  with  it  ?' 

And  they  heard  the  Voice  answer,  'Even  so!' 

After  that  the  Voice  was  still,  and  soon  the  Antelope 
returned  from  behind  the  curtain,  and  the  youths  caressed 
her  with  brotherly  caresses,  and  took  a  circle  of  hands 
about  her,  and  so  moved  to  the  great  Hall  of  the  gorgeous 
Tree,  and  fed  her  from  the  branches.  Now,  while  they 
were  there,  Shibli  Bagarag  advanced  to  the  Antelope,  and 
knelt  at  her  feet,  and  said,  '  0  Princess  of  Aklis,  surely  I 
am  betrothed  to  one  constant  as  a  fixed  star,  and  brighter; 
a  mistress  of  magic,  and  innocent  as  the  bleating  lamb; 
and  she  is  now  on  a  pillar,  chained  there,  in  the  midst  of 
the  white  wrathful  sea,  wailing  for  me  to  deliver  her  with 
this  Sword  of  my  seeking.  So,  now,  I  pray  thee  help  me 
to  the  Sword  swiftly,  that  I  may  deliver  her.' 

The  youths,  her  brothers,  clamoured  and  interposed, 
saying,  'Take  thy  shape  ere  that,  O  Gulrevaz,  our  sister!' 

But  she  cried,  'He  is  betrothed!  not  till  he  graspeth 
the  Sword.  Tell  him,  the  youth,  our  conditions,  and  for 
what  exchange  the  Sword  is  yielded.' 

And  they  said,  'The  conditions  are,  thou  part  with  thy 
spells,  all  of  them,  0  youth!' 

And  he  said,  'There  is  no  condition  harsh  that  ex- 
changeth  the  Sword;   O  ye  Seven,  I  agree!' 

Then  she  said,  "Tis  well!  nobDity  is  in  the  soul  of  this 
youth.  Go  before  us  now  to  the  Cave  of  Chrysolites,  0 
my  brothers.' 

So  these  departed  before,  and  she  in  her  antelope  form 
followed  footing  gracefully,  and  made  Shibli  Bagarag 
repeat  the  story  of  his  betrothal  as  they  went. 


216  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE  SWORD  OF  AKLIS 

Now,  when  they  had  made  the  passage  of  many  halls, 
})uilt  of  different  woods,  filled  with  divers  wonders,  they 
descended  a  sloping  vault,  and  came  to  a  narrow  way  in 
the  earth,  hung  with  black,  at  the  end  of  it  a  stedfast  blaze 
like  a  sun,  that  grew  larger  as  they  advanced,  and  they 
heard  the  sea  above  them.  The  noise  of  it,  and  its  plung- 
ing and  weltering  and  its  pitilessness,  struck  on  the  heart 
of  Shibli  Bagarag  as  with  a  blow,  and  he  cried,  'Haste, 
haste,  0  Princess!  perchance  she  is  even  now  calling  to 
me  with  her  tongue,  and  I  not  aiding  her;  delayed  by  the 
temptation  of  this  crown  and  the  guile  of  the  Brides.' 

She  checked  him,  and  said,  'In  Aklis  no  haste!'  Then 
she  said,  'Look!'  And  lo,  fronting  them  the  single  blaze 
became  two  fires;  and  drawing  nigh,  Shibli  Bagarag  be- 
held them  what  they  were,  angry  eyes  in  the  head  of  a 
great  lion,  a  model  of  majesty,  and  passion  was  in  his 
mane  and  power  was  in  his  forepaws;  so  while  he  lashed 
his  tail  as  a  tempest  whippeth  the  tawny  billows  at  night, 
and  was  lifting  himself  for  a  roar,  she  said,  'A  hair  of  Gar- 
ravecn,  and  touch  him  with  it!' 

Shibli  Bagarag  pushed  up  his  sleeve  and  broke  one  of 
the  three  sapphire  hairs  and  stepped  forward  to  the  lion, 
holding  in  his  right  hand  the  hair  of  vivid  light.  The 
lion  crouched,  and  was  in  the  \igour  of  the  spring  when 
that  hair  touched  him,  and  he  trembled,  tumbling  on  his 
knees  and  letting  the  twain  pass.  So  they  advanced 
beyond  him,  and  lo!  the  Cave  of  Chrysolites  irradiate 
with  beams,  breaks  of  brilliance,  confluences  of  lively  hues. 


THE  SWORD  OF  AKLIS  217 

restless  rays,  meeting,  vanishing,  flooding  splendours,  now 
scattered  in  dazzling  joints  and  spars,  now  uniting  in  mo- 
mentary disks  of  radiance.  In  the  centre  of  the  cave 
glowed  a  furnace,  and  round  it  he  distinguished  the  seven 
youths,  swarthier  and  sterner  than  before,  dark  sweat 
standing  on  the  brows  of  each.  Their  words  were  brief, 
and  they  wore  each  a  terrible  frown,  saying  to  him,  with- 
out further  salutation,  '  Thrust  in  the  flame  of  this  furnace 
thy  right  wrist.' 

At  the  same  moment,  the  Antelope  said  in  his  ear,  'Do 
thou  their  bidding,  and  be  not  backward!  In  Aldis  fear 
is  ruin,  and  hesitation  a  destroyer.' 

He  fixed  his  mind  on  the  devotedness  of  Nooma,  and 
held  his  nether  lip  tightly  between  his  teeth,  and  thrust 
his  right  wrist  in  the  flame  of  the  furnace.  The  wrist  red- 
dened, and  became  transparent  with  heat,  but  he  felt  no 
pain,  only  that  his  whole  arm  was  thrice  its  natural  weight. 
Then  the  flame  of  the  furnace  fell,  and  the  seven  youths 
made  him  kneel  by  a  brook  of  golden  waters  and  dip  his 
forehead  up  to  his  eyes  in  the  waters.  Then  they  took  him 
to  the  other  side  of  the  cave,  and  his  sight  was  strengthened 
to  mark  the  glory  of  the  Sword,  where  it  hung  in  slings,  a 
little  way  from  the  wall,  outshining  the  lights  of  the  cave, 
and  throwing  them  back  with  its  superior  force  and  sted- 
fastness  of  lustre.  Lo!  the  length  of  it  was  as  the  length 
of  crimson  across  the  sea  when  the  sun  is  sideways  on  the 
wave,  and  it  seemed  full  a  mile  long,  the  whole  blade  sheen- 
ing hke  an  arrested  lightning  from  the  end  to  the  hilt;  the 
hilt  two  large  live  serpents  twined  together,  with  eyes  like 
sombre  jewels,  and  sparkling  spotted  skins,  points  of  fire 
in  their  folds,  and  reflections  of  the  emerald  and  topaz  and 
ruby  stones,  studded  in  the  blood-stained  haft.  Then  the 
seven  young  men,  sons  of  Aklis,  said  to  Shibli  Bagarag, 
'Surrender  the  Lily!'  And  when  he  had  given  into  their 
hands  the  Lily,  they  said,  'Grasp  the  handle  of  the  Sword!' 


218  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Now,  he  belicld  the  Swuid  uiid  the  ripples  of  violet  heat 
that  were  breathing  down  it,  and  those  two  venomous 
serpents  twined  together,  and  the  size  of  it,  its  ponderous- 
ness;  and  to  essay  lifting  it  appeared  to  hini  a  madness, 
but  he  concealed  his  thought,  and,  setting  his  soul  on  the 
safety  of  Noorna,  went  forward  to  it  boldly,  and  piercing 
his  right  arm  between  the  twists  of  the  serpents,  grasped 
the  jewelled  haft.  Surely,  the  Sword  moved  from  the 
slings  as  if  a  giant  had  swayed  it!  But  what  amazed  him 
was  the  mar\'el  of  the  blade,  for  its  sharpness  was  such 
that  nothing  stood  in  its  way,  and  it  slipi)t;d  through  every- 
thing as  we  pass  through  still  water, — the  stone  columns, 
blocks  of  granite  by  the  walls,  the  walls  of  earth,  and  the 
thick  solidity  of  the  ground  beneath  his  feet.  They  bade 
him  say  to  the  Sword,  'Sleep!'  and  it  was  no  longer  than 
a  knife  in  the  girdle.  Likewise,  they  bade  him  hiss  on  the 
heads  of  the  serpents,  and  say,  'Wake!'  and  while  he  held 
it  lengthwise  it  shot  lengthening  out.  Then  they  bade 
him  hold  in  one  hand  the  sapphire  hair  that  conquered  the 
lion,  and  with  the  edge  of  the  Sword  touch  one  pohit  of  it. 
So  he  did  that,  and  it  split  in  half,  and  the  two  halves  he 
also  split;  and  he  split  those  four,  and  those  eight,  till  the 
hairs  were  thin  as  light  and  not  distinguishable  from  it. 
When  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  the  power  of  the  Sword,  he  ex- 
ulted and  cried,  'Praise  be  to  the  science  of  them  that 
forecast  events  and  the  haps  of  life!'  Now,  in  the  mean- 
time he  marked  the  youths  take  those  hairs  of  Garravcen 
that  he  had  split,  and  tie  them  round  the  neck  of  the  Ante- 
lope, and  empty  the  contents  of  the  phial  down  her  throat; 
and  they  put  the  bulb  of  the  Lily,  that  was  a  heart,  in  her 
mouth,  and  she  swallowed  it  till  the  flower  covered  her 
face.  Then  they  took  each  a  handful  of  the  golden  waters 
of  the  brook  flowing  through  the  cave,  and  flung  the  wa- 
ters over  her,  exclaiming,  'By  the  three  spells  that  have 
power  in  Aklis,  and  by  which  these  waters  are  a  blessing!' 


THE  SWORD  OF  AKLIS  219 

In  the  passing  of  a  flash  she  took  her  shape,  and  was  a 
damsel  taller  than  the  tallest  of  them  that  descend  from 
the  mountains,  a  vision  of  loveliness,  with  queenly  brows, 
closed  red  lips,  and  large  full  black  eyes;  her  hair  black, 
and  on  it  a  net  of  amber  strung  with  pearls.  To  look  upon 
her  was  to  feel  the  tyranny  of  love,  love's  pangs  of  alarm 
and  hope  and  anguish;  and  she  was  dressed  in  a  dress  of 
white  silk,  threaded  with  gold  and  sapphire,  showing  in 
shadowy  beams  her  rounded  figure  and  the  stateliness  that 
was  hers.  So  she  ran  to  her  brothers  and  embraced  them, 
calling  them  by  their  names,  catching  their  hands,  caress- 
ing them  as  one  that  had  been  long  parted  from  them. 
Then,  seeing  Shibli  Bagarag  as  he  stood  transfixed  with 
the  javehns  of  loveliness  that  flew  from  her  on  all  sides, 
she  cried:  'What,  O  Master  of  the  Event!  hast  thou 
nought  for  the  Sword  but  to  gaze  before  thee  in  silliness? ' 

Then  he  said,  '0  rare  in  beauty!  marvel  of  Aklis  and 
the  world!  surely  the  paradise  of  eyes  is  thy  figure  and 
the  glory  of  thy  face!' 

But  she  shouted,  'To  work  with  the  Sword!  Shame 
on  thee!  is  there  not  one,  a  bright  one,  a  miracle  in  faith- 
fulness, that  awaiteth  thy  rescue  on  the  pillar?' 

And  she  repeated  the  praises  he  had  spoken  of  Noorna 
bin  Noorka,  his  betrothed.  Then  he  grasped  the  Sword 
firmly,  remembering  the  love  of  Noorna,  and  crying, 
'Lead  me  from  this,  0  ye  sons  of  Aklis,  and  thou.  Prin- 
cess Gulrevaz,  lead  me,  that  I  may  come  to  her.' 

So  they  said,  'Follow  us!'  and  he  sheathed  the  Sword 
in  his  girdle  with  the  word  'Sleep!'  and  followed  them, 
his  heart  beating  violently. 


220  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


KOOROOKH 

Now,  they  sped  from  the  Cave  of  Chrysohtes  by  another 
passage  than  that  by  which  they  entered  it,  and  nothing 
but  the  hght  of  the  Sword  to  guide  them.  By  that  light 
Shibli  Bagarag  could  distinguish  glimmering  shapes, 
silent  and  statue-like,  to  the  right  and  the  left  of  them, 
their  visages  hidden  in  a  veil  of  heavy  webs;  and  he  saw 
what  seemed  in  the  dusk  broad  halls,  halls  of  council,  and 
again  black  pools  and  black  groves,  and  columns  of  crowded 
porticoes, — all  signs  of  an  underground  kingdom.  They 
came  to  some  steps  and  mounted  these  severally,  coming 
to  a  platform,  in  the  middle  of  which  leapt  a  fountain,  the 
top  spray  of  it  touched  with  a  beam  of  earth  and  the  air 
breathed  by  men.  Here  he  heard  the  youths  dabble  with 
the  dark  waters,  and  he  discerned  Gulrevaz  tossing  it  in 
her  two  hands,  calling,  'Koorookh!  Koorookh!'  Then 
they  said  to  him,  'Stir  this  fountain  with  the  Sword,  O 
Master  of  the  Event!'  So  he  stirred  the  fountain,  and 
the  whole  body  of  it  took  a  leap  toward  the  light  that  was 
like  the  shoot  of  a  long  lance  of  silver  in  the  moon's  rays, 
and  lo!  in  its  place  the  ruffled  feathers  of  a  bird.  Then 
the  seven  youths  and  the  Princess  and  Shibli  Bagarag  got 
up  under  its  feathers  like  a  brood  of  water-fowl;  and  the 
bird  winged  straight  up  as  doth  a  blinded  bee,  ascending, 
and  passing  in  the  ascent  a  widening  succession  of  winding 
terraces,  till  he  observed  the  copper  sun  of  Aklis  and  the 
red  lands  below  it.  Thrice,  in  the  exuberance  of  his  glad- 
ness, he  waved  the  Sword,  and  the  sun  lost  that  dulness  on 


KOOROOKH  221 

its  disk  and  took  a  bright  flame,  and  threw  golden  arrows 
everywhere;  and  the  pastures  were  green,  the  streams 
clear,  the  sands  sparkling.  The  bird  flew,  and  circled,  and 
hung  poised  a  moment,  presently  descending  on  the  roof  of 
the  palace.  Now,  there  was  here  a  piece  of  solid  glass, 
propped  on  two  crossed  bars  of  gold,  and  it  was  shaped 
like  an  eye,  and  might  have  been  taken  for  one  of  the  eyes 
inhabiting  the  head  of  some  monstrous  Genie.  Shibli 
Bagarag  ran  to  it  when  he  was  afoot,  and  peered  through 
it.  Surely,  it  was  the  first  object  of  his  heart  that  he  be- 
held— Noorna,  his  betrothed,  pale  on  the  pillar;  she  with 
her  head  between  her  hands  and  her  hair  scattered  by  the 
storm,  as  one  despairing.  Still  he  looked,  and  he  saw 
swimming  round  the  pillar  that  monstrous  fish,  with  its 
sole  baleful  eye,  which  had  gulped  them  both  in  the  closed 
shell  of  magic  pearl ;  and  he  knew  the  fish  for  Karaz,  the 
Genie,  their  enemy.  Then  he  turned  to  the  Princess,  with 
an  imploring  voice  for  counsel  how  to  reach  her  and  bring 
her  rescue ;  but  she  said,  '  The  Sword  is  in  thy  hands,  none 
of  us  dare  wield  it';  and  the  seven  youths  answered  like- 
wise. So,  left  to  himself,  he  drew  the  Sword  from  his  girdle, 
and  hissed  on  the  heads  of  the  serpents,  at  the  same  time 
holding  it  so  that  it  might  lengthen  out  illimitably.  Then 
he  leaned  it  over  the  eye  of  the  glass,  in  the  direction  of  the 
pillar  besieged  by  the  billows,  and  lo!  with  one  cut,  even 
at  that  distance,  he  di\dded  the  fishy  monster,  and  with 
another  severed  the  chains  that  had  fettered  Noorna;  and 
she  arose  and  smiled  blissfully  to  the  sky,  and  stood  up- 
right, and  signalled  him  to  lay  the  point  of  the  blade  on  the 
pillar.  When  he  had  done  this,  knowing  her  wisdom,  she 
put  a  foot  boldly  upon  the  blade  and  ran  up  it  toward  him, 
and  she  was  half-way  up  the  blade,  when  suddenly  a  kite 
darted  down  upon  her,  pecking  at  her  eyes,  to  confuse  her. 
She  waxed  unsteady  and  swayed  this  way  and  that,  bal- 
ancing with  one  arm  and  defending  herself  from  the  at- 


222  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

tacks  of  the  kite  with  another.  It  seemed  to  Shibli 
Bagarag  she  must  fall  and  be  lost;  and  the  sweat  started 
on  his  forehead  in  great  drops  big  as  nuts.  Seeing  that 
and  the  agitation  of  his  limbs,  Gulrevaz  cried,  'O  Master 
of  the  Event,  let  us  hear  it!' 

But  he  shrieked,  'The  kite!  the  kite!  she  is  running 
up  the  blade,  and  the  kite  is  at  her  eyes!  and  she  swaying, 
swaying!  falling,  falling!' 

So  the  Princess  exclaimed,  'A  kite!  Koorookh  is  match 
for  a  kite!' 

Then  she  smoothed  the  throat  of  Koorookh,  and  clasped 
round  it  a  collar  of  bright  steel,  roughened  with  secret 
characters;  and  she  took  a  hoop  of  gold,  and  passed  the 
bird  through  it,  urging  it  all  the  while  with  one  strange 
syllable;  and  the  bird  went  up  with  a  strong  whirr  of  the 
wing  till  he  was  over  the  sea,  and  caught  sight  of  Noorna 
tottering  beneath  him  on  the  blade,  and  the  kite  pecking 
fiercely  at  her.  Thereat  he  fluttered  eagerly  a  twinkle  of 
time,  and  the  next  was  down  with  his  beak  in  the  neck  of 
the  kite,  crimsoned  in  it.  Now,  by  the  shouts  and  excla- 
mations of  Shibli  Bagarag,  the  Princess  and  the  seven 
youths,  her  brothers,  knew  that  the  bird  had  performed 
well  his  task,  and  that  the  fight  was  between  Koorookh 
and  the  kite.  Then  he  cried  gladly  to  them,  'Joy  for  us, 
and  Allah  be  praised!  The  kite  is  dropping,  and  she 
leaneth  on  one  wing  of  Koorookh!' 

And  he  cried  in  anguish,  'What  see  I?  The  kite  is 
become  a  white  ball,  rolling  down  the  blade  toward  her; 
and  it  will  of  a  surety  destroy  her,'  And  he  called  to  her, 
thinking  vainly  his  voice  might  reach  her.  So  the  Princess 
said,  'A  white  ball?  'tis  I  that  am  match  for  a  white  ball!' 

Now,  she  seized  from  the  corner  of  the  palace-roof  a 
bow  and  an  arrow,  and  her  brothers  lifted  her  to  a  level 
with  the  hilt  of  the  Sword,  leaning  on  the  eye  of  glass. 
Then  she  planted  one  foot  on  the  shoulder  of  ShibU  Baga- 


KOOROOKH  223 

rag  as  he  bent  peering  through  the  eye,  and  fitted  the 
arrow  to  a  level  of  the  Sword,  slanting  its  slant,  and  let 
it  fly,  doubling  the  bow.  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  the  ball  roll 
to  within  a  foot  of  Noorna,  when  it  was  as  if  stricken  by  a 
gleam  of  light,  and  burst,  and  was  a  black  cloud  veined 
with  fire,  swathing  her  in  folds.  He  lost  all  sight  of 
Noorna;  and  where  she  had  been  were  vivid  flashes,  and 
then  a  great  flame,  and  in  the  midst  a  red  serpent  and  a 
green  serpent  twisted  as  in  the  death-struggle.  So  he 
cried,  'A  red  serpent  and  a  green  serpent!' 

And  the  sons  of  Aklis  exclaimed,  'A  red  serpent?  'Tis 
we  that  are  match  for  a  red  serpent!' 

Thereupon  they  descended  steps  through  the  palace- 
roof,  and  while  the  fight  between  those  two  serpents  was 
rageing,  Shibli  Bagarag  beheld  seven  small  bright  birds, 
bee-catchers,  that  entered  the  flame,  bearing  in  their  bills 
shps  of  a  herb,  and  hovering  about  the  head  of  the  red  ser- 
pent, distracting  it.  Then  he  saw  the  red  serpent  hiss 
and  snap  at  one,  darting  out  its  tongue,  and  lo!  on  the 
fork  of  its  tongue  the  little  bird  let  fall  the  slip  of  herb  in 
its  bill,  and  in  an  instant  the  serpent  changed  from  red  to 
yellow  and  from  yellow  to  pale-spotted  blue,  and  from  that 
to  a  speckled  indigo-colour,  writhing  at  every  change,  and 
hissing  fire  from  its  open  jaws.  Meantime  the  green  ser- 
pent was  released  and  was  making  circles  round  the  flame, 
seeking  to  complete  some  enchantment,  when  suddenly 
the  whole  scene  vanished,  and  Shibli  Bararag  again  beheld 
Noorna  steadying  her  steps  on  the  blade,  and  leaning  on 
one  wing  of  Koorookh.  She  advanced  up  the  blade,  com- 
ing nearer  and  nearer;  and  he  thought  her  close,  and 
breathed  quick  and  ceased  looking  through  the  glass. 
When  he  gazed  abroad,  lo!  she  was  with  Koorookh,  on  a 
far  hill  beyond  the  stream  in  outer  Aklis.  So  he  said  to 
the  Princess  Gulrevaz,  '0  Princess,  comes  she  not  to  me 
here  in  the  palace?' 


224  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

But  the  Princess  shook  her  head,  and  said,  'She  hath 
not  a  spell!  She  waiteth  for  thee  yonder  with  Koorookh. 
Now,  look  through  the  glass  once  more.' 

He  looked  through  the  glass,  and  there  on  a  plain,  as  he 
had  first  seen  it  when  Noorna  appeared  to  him,  was  the 
City  of  Shagpat,  and  in  the  streets  of  the  city  a  vast  as- 
sembly, and  a  procession  passing  on,  its  front  banner  sur- 
mounted by  the  Crescent,  and  bands  with  curled  and 
curved  instruments  playing,  and  slaves  scattering  gold 
and  clashing  cymbals,  every  demonstration  and  evidence 
of  a  great  day  and  a  high  occasion  in  the  City  of  Shagpat! 
So  he  peered  yet  kecnlier  through  the  glass,  and  behold,  the 
Vizier  Fcshnavat,  father  of  Noorna,  walldng  in  fetters, 
subject  to  the  jibes  and  e\dl-speaking  of  the  crowds  of 
people,  his  turban  off,  and  he  in  a  robe  of  drab-coloured 
stuff,  in  the  scorned  condition  of  an  unbeliever.  Shibli 
Bagarag  peered  yet  more  earnestly  through  the  glass  eye, 
and  in  the  centre  of  the  procession,  clad  gorgeously  in  silks 
and  stuffs,  woven  with  gold  and  gems,  a  crown  upon  his 
head,  and  the  appanages  of  supremacy  and  majesty  about 
him,  was  Shagpat.  He  paced  upon  a  yellow  flooring  that 
was  unrolled  before  him  from  a  mighty  roll;  and  there 
were  slaves  that  swarmed  on  all  sides  of  him,  supporting 
upon  gold  pans  and  platters  the  masses  of  hair  that  spread 
bushily  before  and  behind,  and  to  the  right  and  left  of  him. 
Truly  the  gravity  of  his  demeanour  exceeded  that  which  is 
attained  by  Sheiks  and  Dervishes  after  much  drinking  of 
the  waters  of  wisdom,  and  fasting,  and  abnegation  of  the 
pleasures  that  betray  us  to  folly  in  this  world!  Now, 
when  he  saw  Shagpat,  the  soul  of  Shibli  Bagarag  was 
quickened  to  do  his  appointed  work  upon  him,  shear  him, 
and  release  the  Vizier  Feshnavat.  Desire  to  shave  Shag- 
pat was  as  a  salt  thirst  rageing  in  him,  as  the  dream  of 
munching  to  one  that  starveth;  even  as  the  impelling  of 
violent  tempests  to  skiffs  on  the  sea;  and  he  hungered 


KOOROOKH  225 

to  be  at  him,  crying,  as  he  peered,  "Tis  he!  even  he, 
Shagpat!' 

Then  he  turned  to  the  Princess  Gidrevaz,  and  said, 
"Tis  Shagpat,  exalted,  clothed  with  majesty,  0  thou 
morning  star  of  Akhs!' 

She  said,  'Koorookh  is  given  thee,  and  waiteth  to  carry 
ye  both ;  and  for  me  I  will  watch  that  this  glass  send  forth 
a  beam  to  light  ye  to  that  city ;  so  farewell,  0  thou  that  art 
loved!    And  delay  in  nothing  to  finish  the  work  in  hand.' 

Now,  when  he  had  set  his  face  from  the  Princess  he 
descended  through  the  roof  of  the  palace,  and  met  the 
seven  youths  returning,  and  they  accompanied  him  through 
the  halls  of  the  palace  to  that  hall  where  the  damsels  had 
duped  him.  He  was  mindful  of  his  promise  to  the  old  man 
crowned,  and  flashed  the  Sword  a  strong  flash,  so  that  he 
who  looked  on  it  would  be  seared  in  the  eyelashes.  Then 
the  doors  of  the  recesses  flew  apart,  eight-and-ninety  in 
number,  and  he  beheld  divers  sitters  on  thrones,  with  the 
diadem  of  asses'  ears  stiffened  upright,  and  monkeys'  skulls 
grinning  with  gems;  they  having  on  each  countenance  the 
look  of  sovereigns  and  the  serenity  of  high  estate.  Shibli 
Bagarag  laughed  at  them,  and  he  thought,  'Wullahy! 
was  I  one  of  these  ?  I,  the  beloved  of  Noorna,  destined 
Master  of  the  Event!'  and  he  thought,  'Of  a  surety,  if 
these  sitters  could  but  laugh  at  themselves,  there  would  be 
a  release  for  them,  and  the  crown  would  topple  off  which 
getteth  the  homage  of  asses  and  monkeys!'  He  would 
have  spoken  to  them,  but  the  sons  of  Aklis  said,  'They 
have  seen  the  flashing  of  the  Sword,  and  'twere  well  they 
wake  not.'  As  they  went  from  the  hall  the  seven  youths 
said,  '  Reflect  upon  the  age  of  these  sitters,  that  have  been 
sitting  in  the  chairs  from  three  to  eleven  generations  back! 
And  they  were  searchers  of  the  Sword  like  thee,  but  were 
duped!  In  like  manner,  the  hen  sitteth  in  complacency, 
but  she  bringeth  forth  and  may  cackle;   'tis  owing  to  the 


226  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

aids  of  Noorna  that  thou  art  not  one  of  these  sitters,  O 
Master  of  the  Event!'  Now,  they  paced  through  the 
hall  of  dainty  provender,  and  through  the  hall  of  the  jewel- 
fountains,  coming  to  the  palace  steps,  where  stood  Abarak 
leaning  on  his  bar.  As  they  advanced  to  Abarak,  there 
was  a  clamour  in  the  halls  behind,  that  gathered  in  noise 
like  a  torrent,  and  approached,  and  presently  the  Master 
was  ware  of  a  sharp  stroke  on  his  forehead  with  a  hairy 
finger,  and  then  a  burn,  and  the  Crown  that  had  clung  to 
him  toppled  off;  surely  it  fell  upon  the  head  of  the  old 
monkey,  the  cautious  and  wise  one,  he  that  had  made  a 
study  of  Shibli  Bagarag.  Thereupon  that  monkey  stalked 
scornfully  from  them;  and  Abarak  cried,  'O  Master  of 
the  Event !  it  was  better  for  me  to  keep  the  passage  of  the 
Seventh  Pillar,  than  be  an  ape  of  this  order.  Wah!  the 
flashing  of  the  Sword  scorcheth  them,  and  they  scamper.* 


THE  VEILED  FIGURE  227 


THE  VEILED  FIGURE 

Verily  there  was  lightning  in  Aklis  as  Shibli  Bagarag 
flashed  the  Sword  over  the  clamouring  beasts:  the  shape 
of  the  great  palace  stood  forth  vividly,  and  a  wide  illu- 
mination struck  up  the  streams,  and  gilded  the  large  hang- 
ing leaves,  and  drew  the  hills  glimmeringly  together,  and 
scattered  fires  on  the  flat  faces  of  the  rocks.  Then  the 
seven  youths  said  quickly,  'Away!  out  of  Aklis,  0  Master 
of  the  Event!  from  city  to  city  of  earth  this  hght  is  visible, 
and  men  will  know  that  Fate  is  in  travail,  and  an  Event 
preparing  for  them,  and  Shagpat  will  be  warned  by  the 
portent;  wherefore  lose  not  the  happy  point  of  time  on 
which  thy  star  is  manifest.'  And  they  cried  again,  'Away! 
out  of  Aklis!'  with  gestures  of  impatience,  urging  his  de- 
parture. 

Then  said  he,  '0  youths.  Sons  of  Aklis,  it  is  written 
that  gratitude  is  the  poor  man's  mine  of  wealth,  and  the 
rich  man's  flower  of  beauty;  and  I  have  but  that  to  give 
ye  for  all  this  aid  and  friendliness  of  yours.' 

But  they  exclaimed,  'No  aid  or  friendliness  in  Aklis! 
By  the  gall  of  the  Roc!  it  is  well  for  thee  thou  camest 
armed  with  potent  spells,  and  hadst  one  to  advise  and  in- 
spirit thee,  or  thou  wouldst  have  stayed  here  to  people 
Aklis,  and  grazed  in  a  strange  shape.' 

Now,  the  seven  waxed  in  impatience,  and  he  laid  their 
hands  upon  his  head  and  moved  from  them  with  Abarak, 
to  where  in  the  dusk  the  elephant  that  had  brought  them 
stood.    Then  the  elephant  kneeled  and  took  the  twain 


228  THE  SHAVING  OF  SH.\GPAT  . 

upon  his  back,  and  bore  them  across  the  dark  land  to  that 
reach  of  the  river  where  the  boat  was  moored  in  readiness. 
They  entered  the  boat  silently  among  its  drapery  of  lo- 
tuses, and  the  Veiled  Figure  ferried  them  over  the  stream 
that  rii)plod  not  with  thoir  motion.  As  they  were  crossing, 
desire  to  know  that  Veiled  P'igure  counselled  Shibli  Baga- 
rag  evilly  to  draw  the  Sword  again,  and  flash  it,  so  that 
the  veil  became  transparent.  Then,  when  Abarak  turned 
to  him  for  the  reason  of  the  flashing  of  the  Sword,  he  be- 
held the  eyes  of  the  youth  fixed  in  horror,  glaring  as  at 
sights  beyond  the  tomb.  He  said  nought,  but  as  the 
boat's-head  whispered  among  the  reeds  and  long  flowers 
of  the  opposite  marge,  he  took  Shibli  Bagarag  by  the 
shoulders  and  pushed  him  out  of  the  boat,  and  leaped  out 
likewise,  leading  him  from  the  marge  forcibly,  hurrying 
him  forward  from  it,  he  at  the  heels  of  the  youth  propelling 
him,  and  crying  in  out-of-breath  voice  at  intervals,  '  What 
sight?  what  sight?'  But  the  youth  was  powerless  of 
speech,  and  when  at  last  he  opened  his  lips,  the  little  man 
shrank  from  him,  for  he  laughed  as  do  the  insane,  a  peal  of 
laughter  ended  by  gasps;  then  a  louder  peal,  presently 
softer;  then  a  peal  that  started  all  the  echoes  in  Aklis. 
After  awhile,  as  Abarak  still  cried  in  his  ear,  'What  sight?' 
he  looked  at  him  with  a  large  eye,  saying  querulously,  *  Is 
it  written  I  shall  be  pushed  by  the  shoulder  through  Ufe? 
And  is  it  in  the  pursuit  of  further  thwackings  ? ' 

Abarak  heeded  him  not,  crying  still,  '  What  sight  ? '  and 
Shibli  Bagarag  lowered  his  tone,  and  jerked  his  body,  pro- 
nouncing the  name  'Rabesqurat!'  Then  Abarak  ex- 
claimed, "Tis  as  I  weened.  Oh,  fool!  to  flash  the  Sword 
and  peer  through  the  veil!  Truly,  there  be  few  wits  will 
bear  that  sight!'  On  a  sudden  he  cried,  'No  cure  but  one, 
and  that  a  sloop  in  the  bosom  of  the  betrothed!' 

Thoroupon  he  hurried  the  youth  yet  faster  across  the 
dark  lawns  of  Aklis  toward  the  passage  of  the  Seventh 


THE  VEILED  FIGURE  229 

Pillar,  by  which  the  twain  had  entered  that  kingdom. 
And  Shibli  Bagarag  saw  as  in  a  dream  the  shattered  door, 
shattered  by  the  bar,  remembering  dimly  as  a  thing  dis- 
tant in  years  the  netting  of  the  Queen,  and  Noorna  chained 
upon  the  pillar;  he  remembered  Shagpat  even  vacantly 
in  his  mind,  as  one  sheaf  of  barley  amid  other  sheaves  of 
the  bearded  field,  so  was  he  overcome  by  the  awfulness  of 
that  sight  behind  the  veil  of  the  Veiled  Figure! 

As  they  advanced  to  the  passage,  he  was  aware  of  an 
impediment  to  its  entrance,  as  it  had  been  a  wall  of  stone 
there;  and  seeing  Abarak  enter  the  passage  without  let, 
he  kicked  hard  in  front  at  the  invisible  obstruction,  but 
there  was  no  coming  by.  Abarak  returned  to  him,  and 
took  his  right  arm,  and  raised  the  sleeve  from  his  wrist, 
and  lo,  the  two  remaining  hairs  of  Garraveen  twisted 
round  it  in  sapphire  winds.  Cried  he,  'Oh,  the  gener- 
osity of  Gulrevaz !  she  has  left  these  two  hairs  that  he  may 
accomplish  swiftly  the  destiny  marked  for  him!  but  now, 
since  his  gazing  through  that  veil,  he  must  part  with  them 
to  get  out  of  Aklis.'  And  he  muttered,  'His  star  is  a 
strange  one!  one  that  leadeth  him  to  fortune  by  the  path 
of  frowns!  to  greatness  by  the  aid  of  thwackings!  Truly 
the  ways  of  Allah  are  wonderful ! '  Shibli  Bagarag  resisted 
him  in  nothing,  and  Abarak  loosed  the  two  bright  hairs 
from  his  wrist,  and  those  two  hairs  swelled  and  took  ght- 
tering  scales,  and  were  sapphire  snakes  with  wings  of  in- 
tense emerald;  and  they  rose  in  the  air  spirally  together, 
each  over  each,  so  that  to  see  them  one  would  fancy  in  the 
darkness  a  fountain  of  sapphire  waters  flashed  with  the 
sheen  of  emerald.  When  they  had  reached  a  height  loftier 
than  the  topmost  palace-towers  of  Aklis,  they  descended 
like  javelins  mto  the  earth,  and  m  a  moment  re-appeared, 
in  the  shape  of  Genii  when  they  are  charitably  disposed  to 
them  they  visit;  not  much  above  the  mortal  size,  nor  over- 
bright,  save  for  a  certain  fire  in  their  eyes  when  they  turned 


230  THE  SILWING  OF  SHAGPAT 

them;  and  they  were  clothed  each  from  head  to  foot  in  an 
armour  of  t5aj)phire  plates  shot  with  steely  emerald.  Surely 
the  dragon-fly  that  darteth  all  day  in  the  blaze  over  pools 
is  like  what  they  were.  Abarak  bit  his  forefinger  and  said, 
'  \\'ho  be  ye,  O  sons  of  brilliance  ? ' 

They  answered,  'Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh,  slaves  of 
tlie  Sword.' 

Then  he  said,  'Come  with  us  now,  O  slaves  of  the  Sword, 
and  help  us  to  the  mountain  of  outer  Aklis.' 

They  answered,  '  O  thou,  there  be  but  two  means  for  us 
of  quitting  Aklis:  on  the  wrist  of  the  Master,  or  down  the 
blade  of  the  Sword!  and  from  the  wrist  of  the  Master  we 
have  been  loosed,  and  no  one  of  thy  race  can  tie  us  to  it 
again.' 

Abarak  said,  'How  then  shall  the  Master  leave  Aklis?' 

They  answered,  'By  Allah  in  Aklis!  he  can  carve  a  way 
whither  he  will  with  the  Sword.' 

But  Abarak  cried,  '0  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh!  he 
hath  peered  through  the  veil  of  the  Ferrying  Figure.' 

Now,  when  they  heard  his  words,  the  \dsages  of  the 
Genii  darkened,  and  they  exclaimed  sorrowfully,  'Serve 
we  such  a  one?' 

And  they  looked  at  Shibli  Bagarag  a  look  of  anger,  so 
that  he,  whose  wits  were  in  past  occurrences,  imagined 
them  his  enemy  and  the  foe  of  Noorna  split  in  two,  cr>ing, 
'How?  Is  Karaz  a  couple?  and  do  I  multiply  him  with 
strokes  of  the  Sword?' 

Thereupon  he  drew  the  Sword  from  his  girdle  in  wrath, 
flourishing  it;  and  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh  felt  the 
miglit  of  the  Sword,  and  prostrated  themselves  to  the 
ground  at  his  feet.  And  Abarak  said,  'Arise,  and  bring 
us  swiftly  to  the  mountain  of  outer  Aklis.' 

Then  said  they,  'Seek  a  passage  down  yonder  brook 
in  the  moonbeams;  and  it  is  the  sole  passage  for  him 
now.' 


THE  VEILED  FIGURE  231 

Abarak  went  with  them  to  the  brook  that  was  making 
watery  music  to  itself  between  banks  of  splintered  rock 
and  over  broad  slabs  of  marble,  bubbling  here  and  there 
about  the  roots  of  large-leaved  water-flowers,  and  catching 
the  mirrored  moon  of  Aklis  in  whirls,  breaking  it  in  lances. 
Then  they  waded  into  the  water  knee-deep,  and  the  two 
Genii  seized  hold  of  a  great  slab  of  marble  in  the  middle  of 
the  water,  and  under  was  a  hollow  brimmed  with  the 
brook,  that  the  brook  partly  filled  and  flowed  over.  Then 
the  Genii  said  to  Abarak,  'Plunge!'  and  they  said  the  same 
to  Shibh  Bagarag.  The  swayer  of  the  Sword  replied,  as 
it  had  been  a  simple  occasion,  a  common  matter,  and  a 
thing  for  the  exercise  of  civility,  'With  pleasure  and  all 
willingness!'  Thereupon  he  tightened  his  girth,  and  ar- 
rowing his  two  hands,  flung  up  his  heels  and  disappeared 
in  the  depths,  Abarak  following.  Surely,  those  two  went 
diving  downward  till  it  seemed  to  each  there  was  no 
bottom  in  the  depth,  and  they  would  not  cease  to  feel  the 
rushing  of  the  water  in  their  eare  till  the  time  anticipated 
by  mortals. 


232  THE  SHAVIXG  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE  BOSOM  OF  NOORNA 

Now,  while  a  thousand  sparks  of  fire  were  bursting  on  the 
sight  of  the  two  divers,  and  they  speeded  heels  uppermost 
to  the  destiny  marked  out  for  them  by  the  premeditations 
of  the  All-Wise,  lo!  Noorna  was  on  the  mountain  in  outer 
Aklis  with  Koorookh,  waiting  for  the  appearance  of  her 
betrothed,  Sword  in  hand.  She  saw  beams  from  the  blaz- 
ing eye  of  Aklis,  and  knew  by  the  redness  of  it  that  one,  a 
mortal,  was  peering  on  the  earth  and  certain  of  created 
things.  So  she  waited  awhile  in  patience  for  the  return  of 
her  betrothed,  with  the  head  of  Koorookh  in  her  lap, 
caressing  the  bird,  and  teaching  it  words  of  our  language; 
and  the  bird  fashioned  its  bill  to  the  pronouncing  of  names, 
such  as  'Noorna'  and  'Feshnavat/  and  'Goorelka';  and 
it  said  'Karaz,'  and  stuck  not  at  the  name  'Shagpat,' 
and  it  learnt  to  say  even  'Shagpat  shall  be  shaved!  Shag- 
pat  shall  be  shaved!'  but  no  effort  of  Noorna  could  teach 
it  to  say,  'Sliij)li  Bagarag,'  the  bird  calling  instead, 
'Shiparack,  Shiplabarack,  Shibblisharack.'  And  Noorna 
chid  it  with  her  forefinger,  crying,  '0  Koorookh!  wilt 
thou  speak  all  names  but  that  one  of  my  betrothed  ? ' 

So  she  said  again,  'Shibli  Bagarag.'  And  the  bird 
answered,  imitating  its  best,  '  Shibberacavarack.'  Noorna 
wa.s  wroth  with  it,  crying,  'Oh  naughty  bird!  is  the  name 
of  my  beloved  hateful  to  thee?' 

And  she  chid  Koorookh  angrily,  he  with  a  heavy  eye 
sulking,  and  kce})ing  the  sullen  feathers  close  upon  his 
l)oll.     Now,  she   thought,   'There  is   in  this   a   meaning, 


THE  BOSOM  OF  NOORNA  233 

and  I  will  fathom  it.'  So  she  counted  the  letters  in  the 
name  of  her  betrothed,  that  were  thirteen,  and  spelt  them 
backwards,  afterwards  multiplying  them  by  an  equal 
number,  and  fashioning  words  from  the  selection  of  every 
third  and  seventh  letter.  Then  took  she  the  leaf  from  a 
tree  and  bade  Koorookh  fly  with  her  to  the  base  of  the 
mountain  sloping  from  Akhs  to  the  sea,  and  there  wrote 
with  a  pin's  point  on  the  leaf  the  words  fashioned,  dipping 
the  leaf  in  the  salt  ripple  by  the  beach,  till  they  were  dis- 
tinctly traced.  And  it  was  revealed  to  her  that  Shibli 
Bagarag  bore  now  a  name  that  might  be  uttered  by  none, 
for  that  the  bearer  of  it  had  peered  through  the  veil  of  the 
ferrying  figure  in  Aklis.  When  she  knew  that,  her  grief  was 
heavy,  and  she  sat  on  the  cold  stones  of  the  beach  and 
among  the  bright  shells,  weeping  in  anguish,  loosing  her 
hair,  scattering  it  wildly,  exclaiming,  'Awahy!  woe  on 
me!  Was  ever  man  more  tired  than  he  before  entering 
Aklis,  he  that  was  in  turns  abased  and  beloved  and  ex- 
alted! yet  his  weakness  clingeth  to  him,  even  in  Aklis  and 
with  the  Wondrous  Sword  in  his  grasp.' 

Then  she  thought,  'Still  he  had  strength  to  wield  the 
Sword,  for  I  marked  the  flashing  of  it,  and  'twas  he  that 
leaned  forward  the  blade  to  me;  and  he  possesses  the 
qualities  that  bring  one  gloriously  to  the  fruits  of  enter- 
prise!' And  she  thought,  'Of  a  surety,  if  Abarak  be  with 
him,  and  a  single  of  the  three  slaves  of  the  Sword  that  I 
released  from  the  tail  of  Garraveen,  Ravejoura,  Karavejis, 
and  Veejravoosh,  he  will  yet  come  through,  and  I  may 
revive  him  in  my  bosom  for  the  task.'  So,  thinking  upon 
that,  the  sweet  crimson  surprised  her  cheeks,  and  she  arose 
and  drew  Koorookh  with  her  along  the  beach  till  they  came 
to  some  rocks  piled  ruggedly  and  the  waves  breaking  over 
them.  She  mounted  these,  and  stepped  across  them  to 
the  entrance  of  a  cavern,  where  flowed  a  full  water  swiftly 
to  the  sea,  rolling  smooth  bulks  over  and  over,  and  with  a 


234  THE  SfLWING  OF  SIIAGPAT 

translucent  light  in  each,  showing  precious  pebbles  in  the 
bed  of  the  water  below;  agates  of  size,  limpid  corneUans, 
plates  of  polished  jet,  rubies,  diamonds  innumerable  that 
were  smitten  into  sheen  by  slant  rays  of  the  level  sun,  the 
sun  just  losing  iis  circle  behind  lustrous  billows  of  that 
ICnchanted  Sea.  She  turned  to  Koorookh  a  moment,  say- 
ing, with  a  coax  of  smiles,  '  Will  my  bird  wait  here  for  me, 
even  at  this  point?'  Koorookh  clapped  both  his  wings, 
and  she  said  again,  petting  him,  'He  will  keep  watch  to 
pluck  me  from  the  force  of  water  as  I  roll  past,  that  I  be 
not  carried  to  the  sea,  and  lost  ? ' 

Koorookh  still  clapped  his  wings,  and  she  entered  under 
the  arch  of  the  cavern.  It  was  roofed  with  crystals,  a 
sight  of  glory,  with  golden  lamps  at  intervals,  still  centres 
of  a  thousand  beams.  Taking  the  sandal  from  her  left 
foot  and  tucking  up  the  folds  of  her  trousers  to  the  bend  of 
her  clear  wliite  knee,  she  advanced,  half  ^^'ading,  up  the 
winds  of  the  cavern,  and  holding  by  the  juts  of  granite 
here  and  there,  till  she  came  to  a  long  straight  lane  in  the 
cavern,  and  at  the  end  of  it,  far  down,  a  solid  pillar  of 
man3^-colourcd  water  that  fell  into  the  current,  as  it  had 
been  one  block  of  gleaming  marble  from  the  roof,  without 
ceasing.  Now,  she  made  toward  it,  and  fixed  her  eye 
warily  wide  on  it,  and  it  was  bright,  flawless  in  brilliancy; 
but  while  she  gazed  a  sudden  blot  was  visible,  and  she  ob- 
served in  the  body  of  the  fall  two  dark  objects  plumping 
downward  one  after  the  other,  like  bolts,  and  they  splashed 
in  the  current  and  were  carried  off  by  the  violence  of  its 
full  sweep,  shooting  by  her  where  she  stood,  rapidly;  but 
she,  knotting  her  garments  round  the  waist  to  give  her 
limbs  freedom  and  swiftness,  ran  a  space,  and  then  bent 
and  plunged,  catching,  as  she  rose,  the  foremost  to  her 
bosom,  and  whirled  away  under  the  fkishing  crystals  like 
a  fish  scaled  with  splendours  that  hath  darted  and  seized 
upon  a  prey,  and  is  bearing  it  greedily  to  some  secure  cor- 


THE  BOSOM  OF  NOORNA  235 

ner  of  the  deeps  to  swallow  the  quivering  repast  at  leisure. 
Surely,  the  heart  of  Noorna  was  wise  of  what  she  bore 
against  her  bosom;  and  it  beat  exulting  strokes  in  the 
midst  of  the  rush  and  roar  and  gurgle  of  the  torrent,  and 
the  gulping  sounds  and  multitudinous  outcries  of  the  head- 
long water.  That  verse  of  the  poet  would  apply  to  her 
where  he  says: 

Lead  me  to  the  precipice, 
And  bid  me  leap  the  dark  abyss: 
I  care  not  what  the  danger  be, 
So  my  beloved,  my  beauteous  vision, 
Be  but  the  prize  I  bear  with  me. 
For  she  to  Paradise  can  turn  Perdition. 

Praise  be  to  him  that  planteth  love,  the  worker  of  this 
marvel,  within  us!  Now,  she  sped  in  the  manner  narrated 
through  the  mazes  of  the  cavern,  coming  suddenly  to  the 
point  at  the  entrance  where  perched  Koorookh  gravely 
upon  one  leg,  like  a  bird  with  an  angling  beak:  he  caught 
at  her  as  she  was  hurling  toward  the  sea,  and  drew  her  to 
the  bank  of  rock,  that  burden  on  her  bosom;  and  it  was 
Shibli  Bagarag,  her  betrothed,  his  eyes  closed,  his  whole 
countenance  colourless.  Behind  him  like  a  shadow  streamed 
Abarak,  and  Noorna  kneeled  by  the  waterside  and  fetched 
the  little  man  from  it  likewise ;  he  was  without  a  change,  as 
if  drawn  from  a  familiar  element;  and  when  he  had  pros- 
trated himself  thrice  and  called  on  the  Prophet's  name  in 
the  form  of  thanksgiving,  he  wrung  his  beard  of  the  wet, 
and  had  wit  to  bless  the  action  of  Noorna,  that  saved  him. 
Then  the  two  raised  Shibli  Bagarag  from  the  rock,  and 
rechned  him  lengthwise  under  the  wings  of  Koorookh,  and 
Noorna  stretched  herself  there  beside  him  with  one  arm 
about  his  neck,  the  fair  head  of  the  youth  on  her  bosom. 
And  she  said  to  Abarak,  '  He  hath  dreamed  many  dreams, 
my  betrothed,  but  never  one  so  sweet  as  that  I  give  him. 


236  THE  StIAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Already,  see,  the  hue  rcturneth  to  his  cheek  and  the 
dimples  of  pleasure.'  Ho  was  it;  and  she  said,  'Mount, 
O  thou  of  the  net  and  the  bar!  and  stride  Koorookh  across 
the  neck,  for  it  is  nigh  the  setting  of  the  moon,  and  by 
dawn  we  must  be  in  our  middle  flight,  seen  of  men,  a 
cloud  over  them.' 

Said  Abarak,  'To  hear  is  to  obey!' 

He  bestrode  the  neck  of  Koorookh  and  sat  with  dan- 
gling feet,  till  she  cried,  'Rise!'  and  the  bird  spread  its 
wings  and  flapped  them  wide,  rising  high  in  the  silver  rays, 
and  flying  rapidly  forward  with  the  three  on  him  from  the 
mountain  in  front  of  Aklis,  and  the  white  sea  with  its  en- 
chanted isles  and  wonders;  flying  and  soaring  till  the  earth 
was  as  what  might  be  held  in  the  hollow  of  the  hand,  and 
the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  a  mingled  heap  of  shining  dust 
in  the  midst. 


THE  REVIVAL  237 


THE  REVIVAL 

Now,  the  feathers  of  Koorookh  in  his  flight  were  ruffled 
by  a  chill  breeze,  and  they  were  speeding  through  a.  light 
glow  of  cold  rose-colour.  Then  said  Noorna,  "Tis  the 
messenger  of  morning,  the  blush.  Oh,  what  changes  will 
date  from  this  day!' 

The  glow  of  rose  became  golden,  and  they  beheld  under- 
neath them,  on  one  side,  the  rim  of  the  rising  red  sun, 
and  rays  streaming  over  the  earth  and  its  waters.  And 
Noorna  said,  'I  must  warn  Feshnavat,  my  father,  and 
prepare  him  for  our  commg.' 

So  she  plucked  a  feather  from  Koorookh  and  laid  the 
quill  downward,  letting  it  drop.  Then  said  she,  'Now 
for  the  awakening  of  my  betrothed!' 

Thereupon  she  hugged  his  head  a  moment,  and  kissed 
him  on  the  eyeUds,  the  cheeks,  and  the  lips,  crying,  'By 
this  means  only!'  Crying  that,  she  pushed  him,  sliding, 
from  the  back  of  the  bird,  and  he  parted  from  them,  falhng 
headforemost  in  the  air  like  a  stricken  eagle.  Then  she 
called  to  Koorookh,  'Seize  him!'  and  the  bird  slanted  his 
beak  and  closed  his  wings, — the  two,  Abarak  and  Noorna, 
chnging  to  him  tightly;  and  he  was  down  like  an  arrow 
between  Shibli  Bagarag  and  the  ground,  spreading  beneath 
him  like  a  tent,  and  Noorna  caught  the  youth  gently  to 
her  lap;  then  she  pushed  him  off  again,  intercepting  his 
descent  once  more,  till  they  were  on  a  level  with  one  of  the 
mountains  of  the  earth,  from  which  the  City  of  Shagpat  is 
visible  among  the  yellow  sands  like  a  white  spot  in  the  yolk 
of  an  egg.    So  by  this  time  the  eyes  of  the  youth  gave 


238  THE  SILWING  OF  SIL\GPAT 

symptoms  of  a  desire  to  look  upon  the  things  that  be,, 
peeping  faintly  beneath  the  lashes,  and  she  exclaimed  joy- 
fully, raising  her  white  hands  above  her  head,  'One 
j)lung('  in  tlie  lake,  and  life  will  be  his  again!' 

Below  them  was  a  green  lake,  tinted  by  the  dawn  with 
crimson  and  yellow,  deep,  and  with  high  banks.  As  they 
crossed  it  to  the  middle,  she  slipped  off  the  youth  from 
Koorookh,  and  he  with  a  great  plunge  was  received  into 
the  stillness  of  the  lake.  Meanwhile  Koorookh  quivered 
his  wings  and  seized  him  when  he  arose,  bearing  him  to  an 
end  of  the  lake,  where  stood  one  dressed  like  a  Dervish, 
and  it  wa.s  the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  the  father  of  Noorna.  So 
when  he  saw  them,  he  shouted  the  shout  of  congratulation, 
catching  Noorna  to  his  breast,  and  Shibli  Bagarag  stretched 
as  doth  a  heavy  sleeper  in  his  last  doze,  saving,  in  a  yawn- 
ing voice,  '  What  trouble  ?  I  wot  there  is  nought  more  for 
us  now  that  Shagpat  is  shaved!  Oh,  I  have  had  a  dream, 
a  dream !  He  that  is  among  Houris  in  Paradise  dreameth 
not  a  dream  like  that.     And  I  dreamed 'tis  gone!' 

Then  said  he,  staring  at  them,  'Who  be  ye?  What  is 
this?' 

Noorna  took  him  again  to  her  bosom,  and  held  him 
there;  and  she  plucked  a  herb,  and  squeezed  it  till  a  drop 
from  it  fell  on  either  of  his  lids,  applying  to  them  likewise 
a  dew  from  the  serpents  of  the  Sword,  and  he  awoke  to  the 
reality  of  things.  Surely,  then  he  prostrated  himself  and 
repeated  the  articles  of  his  faith,  taking  one  hand  of  his 
betrothed  and  kissing  her;  and  he  embraced  Abarak  and 
Feshnavat,  saying  to  the  father  of  Noorna,  'I  know,  O 
Feshnavat,  that  by  my  folly  and  through  my  weakness  I 
have  lost  time  in  this  undertaking,  but  it  shall  be  short 
work  now  with  Shagpat.  This  thy  daughter,  the  Eclipser 
of  Reason,  was  ever  such  a  prize  as  she  ?  I  will  deserve 
her.  Wullahy!  I  am  now  a  new  man,  sprung  like  fire 
from  ashes.     Lo,  I  am  re\'ived  by  her  for  the  great  work/ 


THE  REVIVAL  239 

Said  Abarak:  *0  Master  of  the  Event,  secure  now 
without  delay  the  two  slaves  of  the  Sword,  and  lean  the 
blade  toward  Aklis.' 

Upon  that,  he  ran  up  rapidly  to  the  summit  of  the 
mountain  and  drew  the  Sword  from  his  girdle,  and  leaned 
it  toward  Aklis,  and  it  lengthened  out  over  lands,  the  blade 
of  it  a  beam  of  solid  brilliance.  Presently,  from  forth  the 
invisible  remoteness  they  saw  the  two  Genii,  Karavejis 
and  Veejravoosh,  and  they  were  footing  the  blade  swiftly, 
like  stars,  speeding  up  till  they  were  within  reach  of  the 
serpents  of  the  hilt,  when  they  dropped  to  the  earth,  bow- 
ing their  heads;  so  he  commanded  them  to  rise,  crying, 
'  Search  ye  the  earth  and  its  confines,  and  bring  hither  tid- 
ings of  the  Genie  Karaz.' 

They  said,  'To  hear  is  to  obey.' 

Then  they  began  to  circle  each  round  the  other,  circling 
more  and  more  sharply  till  beyond  the  stretch  of  sight, 
and  Shibli  Bagarag  said  to  Feshnavat,  'Am  I  not  awake, 
O  Feshnavat  ?  I  will  know  where  is  Karaz  ere  I  seek  to 
operate  on  Shagpat,  for  it  is  well  spoken  of  the  poet : 

"Obstructions  first  remove 
Ere  thou  thy  cunning  prove"; 

and  I  will  encounter  this  Karaz  that  was  our  Ass,  ere  I  try 
the  great  shave.' 

Then  said  he,  turning  quickly,  'Yonder  is  the  light 
from  Aklis  striking  on  the  city,  and  I  mark  Shagpat,  even 
he,  illumined  by  it,  singled  out,  where  he  sitteth  on  the 
roof  of  the  palace  by  the  market-place.' 

So  they  looked,  and  it  was  as  he  had  spoken,  that  Shag- 
pat was  singled  out  in  the  midst  of  the  city  by  the  wondrous 
beams  of  the  eye  of  Aklis,  and  made  prominent  in  effulgence. 

Said  Abarak,  climbing  to  the  level  of  observation,  'He 
hath  a  redness  like  the  inside  of  a  halved  pomegranate.' 


240  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Fe.^hnavat  stroked  his  chin,  cxchiiming,  'He  may  be 
Hkcned  t(3  a  mountain  goat  in  the  midst  of  a  forest  roaring 
with  conflagration.' 

Said  ShibU  Bagarag,  'Now  is  he  the  red-mancd  lion, 
the  bristUng  boar,  the  uncombed  buffalo,  the  pluniaged 
cock,  but  soon  will  he  be  hke  nothing  else  save  the  wrinkled 
kernel  of  a  shaggy  fruit.  Lo,  now,  the  Sword!  it  leapeth 
to  be  at  him,  and  'twill  be  as  the  keen  icicle  of  winter  to 
that  perishing  foliage,  that  doomed  crop!  So  doth  the 
destined  minute  destroy  with  a  flash  the  hoarded  arrogance 
of  ages;  and  the  destined  hand  doeth  what  creation  failed 
to  perform ;  and  'tis  by  order,  destiny,  and  preordainment, 
that  the  works  of  this  world  come  to  pass.  This  know  I, 
and  I  witness  thereto  that  am  of  a  surety  ordained  to  the 
Sha\ing  of  Shagpat ! ' 

Then  he  stood  apart  and  gazed  from  Shagpat  to  the 
city  that  now  began  to  move  with  the  morning;  elephants 
and  coursers  saddled  by  the  gates  of  the  King's  palace 
were  visible,  and  camels  blocking  the  narrow  streets,  and 
the  markets  bustling.  Surely,  though  the  sun  illumined 
that  city,  it  was  as  a  darkness  behind  Shagpat  singled  by 
the  beams  of  Aklis. 


THE  PLOT  241 


THE  PLOT 

Now,  while  Shibli  Bagarag  gazed  on  Shagpat  kindled  by 
the  beams  of  Aklis,  lo,  the  Genii  Karavejis  and  Veejra- 
voosh  circling  each  other  in  swift  circles  like  two  sapphire 
rings  toward  him,  and  they  whirled  to  a  point  above  his 
head,  and  fell  and  prostrated  themselves  at  his  feet:  so  he 
cried,  'O  ye  slaves  of  the  Sword,  my  servitors!  how  of  the 
whereabout  of  Karaz  ? ' 

They  answered,  'O  Master  of  the  Event,  we  found  him 
after  many  circlings  far  off,  and  'twas  by  the  borders  of 
the  Putrid  Sea.  We  came  not  close  on  him,  for  he  is 
stronger  than  we  without  the  Sword,  but  it  seemed  he  was 
distilling  drops  of  an  oil  from  certain  substances,  large 
thickened  drops  that  dropped  into  a  phial.' 

Then  Shibli  Bagarag  said,  'The  season  of  weakness  with 
me  is  over,  and  they  that  confide  in  my  strength,  my  cun- 
ning, my  watchfulness,  my  wielding  of  the  Sword,  have 
nought  to  fear  for  themselves.  Now,  this  is  my  plot,  O 
Feshnavat, — that  part  of  it  in  which  thou  art  to  have  a 
share.  'Tis  that  thou  depart  forthwith  to  the  City  yonder, 
and  enter  thy  palace  by  a  back  entrance,  and  I  will  see 
that  thou  art  joined  within  an  hour  of  thy  arrival  there  by 
Baba  Mustapha,  my  uncle,  the  gabbler.  He  is  there,  as  I 
guess  by  signs;  I  have  had  warnings  of  him.  Discover 
him  speedily.  Thy  task  is  then  to  induce  him  to  make  an 
attempt  on  the  head  of  Shagpat  in  all  wiliness,  as  he  and 
thou  think  well  to  devise.  He  will  fail,  as  I  know,  but 
what  is  that  saying  of  the  poet  ? — 


242  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

"Persist,  if  thou  woiildst  truly  reach  thine  ends, 
For  failures  oft  are  but  advising  friends." 

And  he  says: 

"Every  failure  is  a  step  advanced, 
To  him  who  will  consider  how  it  chanced." 

Wherefore,  will  I  that  this  attempt  be  made,  keeping  the 
coujisel  that  is  mine.  Thou  must  tell  Baba  Mustapha  I 
wait  without  the  city  to  reward  him  by  my  powers  of 
reward  with  all  that  he  best  loveth.  So,  when  he  has 
failed  in  his  attempt  on  Shagpat,  and  blows  fall  plente- 
ously  upon  him,  and  he  is  regaled  with  the  accustomed 
thwacking,  as  I  have  tasted  it  in  this  undertaking,  do  thou 
waste  no  further  word  on  him,  for  his  part  is  over,  and  as 
is  said: 

"Waste  not  a  word  in  enterprise! 
Against — or  for — the  minute  flies." 

Tis  then  for  thee,  0  Feshnavat,  to  speed  to  the  presence 
of  the  King  in  his  majesty,  and  thou  wilt  find  means  of 
coming  to  him  by  a  disguise.  Once  in  the  Hall  of  Council, 
challenge  the  tongue  of  contradiction  to  affirm  Shagpat 
other  than  a  bald-pate  bewigged.      This  is  for  thee  to  do.' 

Quoth  Feshnavat  plaintively,  after  thought,  '  And  what 
becomcth  of  me,  O  thou  Master  of  the  Event?' 

Shibli  Bagarag  said,  'The  clutch  of  the  executioner  will 
be  upon  thee,  O  Feshnavat,  and  a  clamouring  multitude 
around;  short  breathing-time  given  thee,  O  father  of 
Noorna,  ere  the  time  of  breathing  is  conmianded  to  cease. 
Now,  in  that  respite  the  thing  that  will  occur,  'tis  for  thee 
to  see  and  mark;  sure,  never  will  reverse  of  things  be  more 
complete,  and  the  other  side  of  the  picture  more  rapidly 
exhibited,  if  all  go  as  I  conceive  and  plot,  and  the  trap  be 


THE  PLOT  243 

not  premature  nor  too  perfect  for  the  trappers;  as  the  poet 
has  declared: 

"Ye  that  intrigue,  to  thy  slaves  proper  portions  adapt; 
Perfectest  plots  burst  too  often,  for  all  are  not  apt." 

And  I  witness  likewise  to  the  excellence  of  his  saying: 

"To  master  an  Event, 
Study  men! 
The  minutes  are  well  spent 
Only  then." 

Also  'tis  he  that  says: 

"The  man  of  men  who  knoweth  men,  the  Man  of  men  is  he! 
His  army  is  the  human  race,  and  every  foe  must  flee." 

So  have  I  apportioned  to  thee  thy  work,  to  Baba  Mustapha 
his;  reserving  to  myself  the  work  that  is  mine!' 

Thereat  Feshnavat  exclaimed,  '0  Master  of  the  Event, 
may  I  be  thy  sacrifice!  on  my  head  be  it!  and  for  thee  to 
command  is  for  me  to  obey !  but  surely,  this  Sword  of  thine 
that  is  in  thy  girdle,  the  marvellous  blade — 'tis  alone  equal 
to  the  project  and  the  shave;  and  the  matter  might  be 
consummated,  the  great  thing  done,  even  from  this  point 
whence  we  behold  Shagpat  visible,  as  'twere  brought  for- 
ward toward  us  by  the  beams!  And  this  Sword  swayed  by 
thee,  and  with  thy  skill  and  strength  and  the  hardihood 
of  hand  that  is  thine,  wullahy!  'twould  shear  him  now, 
this  moment,  taking  the  light  of  Aklis  for  a  lather.' 

Shibli  Bagarag  knotted  the  brows  of  impatience,  crying, 
'Hast  thou  forgotten  Karaz  in  thy  calculations?  I  know 
of  a  surety  what  this  Sword  will  do,  and  I  wot  the  oil  he 
distnieth  strengtheneth  Shagpat  but  against  common 
blades.    Yet  shall  it  not  be  spoken  of  me,  Shibli  Bagarag, 


244  THE  SHEWING  OF  SHAGPAT 

that  I  was  tripped  by  my  own  conceit;  the  poet  coun- 
sellc'th: 

"When  for  any  mighty  end  thou  hast  the  aid  of  heaven, 
Mount  until  thy  strength  shall  match  those  great  means 
which  are  given": 

nor  that  I  was  overthrown  in  despising  mine  enemy,  for- 
getful of  the  saying  of  the  sage: 

"Read  the  features  of  thy  foe,  wherever  he  may  find  thee, 
Small  he  is,  seen  face  to  face,  but  thrice  his  size  behind 
thee." 

Wullahy!  this  Karaz  is  a  Genie  of  craft  and  resources,  one 
of  a  mighty  stock,  and  I  must  close  with  Shagpat  to  be 
sure  of  him;  and  that  I  am  not  deceived  by  semblances, 
opposing  guile  with  guile,  and  guile  deeper  than  his,  for 
that  he  awaiteth  it  not,  thinking  I  have  leaped  in  fancy 
beyond  the  Event,  and  am  puffed  by  the  after-breaths  of 
adulation,  I! — thinking  I  pluck  the  blossoms  in  my  hunger 
for  the  fruit,  that  I  eat  the  chick  of  the  yet  unlaid  egg,  O 
Feshnavat.  As  is  said,  and  the  warrior  beareth  witness 
to  the  wisdom  of  it: 

"His  weapon  I  'II  study,  my  own  conceal; 
So  with  two  arms  to  his  one  shall  I  deal." 

The  same  also  testifieth: 

"  'Tis  folly  of  the  hero,  though  resistless  in  the  field, 
To  stake  the  victory  on  his  steel,  and  fling  away  the  shield." 

And  likewise: 

"  Examine  thine  armour  in  every  joint, 
For  slain  was  the  Giant,  and  by  a  pin's  point." 


THE  PLOT  245 

Wah!  'tis  certain  there  will  need  subtlety  in  this  under- 
taking, and  a  plot  plotted,  so  do  thou  my  bidding,  and 
fail  not  in  the  part  assigned  to  thee.' 

Now,  Feshnavat  was  persuaded  by  his  words,  and  cried, 
'  In  diligence,  discretion,  and  the  virtues  which  character- 
ize subordinates,  I  go,  and  I  delay  not!  I  will  perform  the 
thing  required  of  me,  O  Master  of  the  Event.'  And  he 
repeated  in  verse: 

With  danger  beset,  be  the  path  crooked  or  narrow. 
Thou  art  the  bow,  and  I  the  arrow. 

Then  embraced  he  his  daughter,  kissing  her  on  the  fore- 
head and  the  eyes,  and  tightening  the  girdle  of  his  robe, 
departed,  with  the  name  of  Allah  on  his  hps,  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  City. 

So  Shibli  Bagarag  called  to  him  the  two  Genii,  and  his 
command  was,  '  Soar,  ye  slaves  of  the  Sword,  till  the  range 
of  earth  and  its  mountains  and  seas  and  deserts  are  a 
cluster  in  the  orb  of  the  eye,  Shiraz  conspicuous  as  a  rose 
among  garlands,  and  the  ruby  consorted  with  other  gems 
in  a  setting.  In  Shiraz  or  the  country  adjoining  ye  will 
come  upon  one  Baba  Mustapha  by  name;  and,  if  he  be 
alone,  ye  may  recognize  liim  by  his  forlorn  look  and  the 
hang  of  his  cheeks,  his  vacancy  as  of  utter  abandonment; 
if  in  company,  'twill  be  the  only  talker  that 's  he ;  seize  on 
him,  give  him  a  taste  of  thin  air,  and  deposit  him  without 
speech  on  the  roof  of  a  palace,  where  ye  will  see  Feshnavat 
in  yonder  city:  this  do  ere  the  shadows  of  the  palm-tree 
by  the  well  in  the  plain  move  up  the  mounds  that  enclose 
the  fortified  parts.' 

Cried  Karavejis  and  \^eejravoosh,  'To  hear  is  to  obey.' 

Up  into  the  sky,  like  two  bright  balls  tossed  by  jugglers, 
the  two  Genii  shot;  and,  watching  them,  Noorna  bin 
Noorka  said,  'My  life,  there  is  a  third  wanting,  Ravejoura; 
and  with  aid  of  the  three,  earth  could  have  planted  no 


2ir,  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

obstruction  to  thy  stroke;  but  thou  wert  tempted  by  the 
third  temptation  in  Aklis,  and  left  not  the  Hall  in  triumph, 
the  Hall  of  the  Duping  Brides!' 

He  answered,  'That  is  so,  my  soul;  and  the  penalty  is 
mine,  by  which  I  am  made  to  employ  deceits  ere  I  strike.' 

And  she  said,  "Tis  to  the  generosity  of  Gulrevaz  thou 
owest  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh;  and  I  think  she  was 
generous,  seeing  thee  true  to  me  in  love,  she  that  hath 
sorrows!' 

So  he  said,  'What  of  the  sorrows  of  Gulrevaz?  Tell 
me  of  them.' 

But  she  said,  '  Nay,  0  my  betrothed !  wouldst  thou 
have  this  tongue  blistered,  and  a  consuming  spark  shot 
against  this  bosom?' 

Then  he:  'Make  it  clear  to  me.' 

She  put  her  mouth  to  his  ear,  saying,  'There  is  a  curse 
on  whoso  telleth  of  things  in  Aklis,  and  to  tattle  of  the 
Seven  and  their  sister  forerunneth  wretchedness.' 

Surely,  he  stooped  to  that  fair  creature,  and  folded  her 
to  his  heart,  his  whole  soul  heaving  to  her;  and  he  cried 
again  and  again,  '  Shall  harm  hap  to  thee  through  me  ?  by 
Allah,  no!' 

And  he  closed  the  privileged  arm  of  the  bridegroom 
round  her  waist,  that  had  the  yieldingness  of  the  willow- 
branchlet,  the  flowingness  of  the  summer  sea-wave,  and 
seemed  as  'twere  melting  honey-like  at  the  first  gentle 
pressure;  she  leaning  her  head  shyly  on  his  shoulder,  yet 
confiding  in  his  faithfulness;  it  was  that  she  was  shy  of  the 
great  bliss  in  her  bosom,  and  was  made  timid  by  the  fervour 
of  her  affection;  as  is  sung: 

Deeper  than  the  source  of  blushes 
Is  the  {)owcr  that  makes  them  start; 
Up  in  floods  the  red  stroain  rushes, 
At  one  whisper  of  the  heart. 


THE  PLOT  247 

And  it  is  sung  in  words  present  to  the  youth  as  he  sur- 
veyed her: 

O  beauty  of  the  bride!   O  beauty  of  the  bride! 
Her  bashful  joys  Uke  serpents  sting  her  tenderness  to 
tears : 
Her  hopes  are  sleeping  eagles  in  the  shining  of  the  spheres; 

O  beauty  of  the  bride!   O  beauty  of  the  bride! 
And  she  's  a  lapping  antelope  that  from  her  image  flees ; 
And  she  's  a  dove  caught  in  two  hands,  to  pant  as  she  shall 
please ; 
O  beauty  of  the  bride!   O  beauty  of  the  bride! 
Like  torrents  over  Paradise  her  lengthy  tresses  roll: 
She  moves  as  doth  a  swaying  rose,  and  chides  her  hasty  soul ; 
The   thing  she  will,  that  will  she  not,  yet  can  no  will 
control : 
O  beauty,  beauty,  beauty  of  the  bride! 

They  were  thus  together,  Abarak  leaning  under  one 
wing  of  Koorookh  for  shade  up  the  slope  of  the  hill,  and 
Shibli  Bagarag  called  to  him,  'Ho,  Abarak!  look  if  there 
be  aught  impending  over  the  City.' 

So  he  arose  and  looked,  crying,  '  One  with  plunging  legs, 
high  up  in  air  over  the  City,  between  two  bright  bodies.' 
Shibli  Bagarag  exclaimed,  "Tis  well!  The  second  chapter 
of  the  Event  is  opened;  so  call  it,  thou  that  tellest  of  the 
Shaving  of  Shagpat.     It  will  be  the  shortest.' 

Then  he  said,  'The  shadow  of  yonder  palm  is  now  a 
slanted  spear  up  the  looped  wall  of  the  City.  Now,  the 
time  of  Shagpat 's  triumph,  and  his  greatest  majesty,  will 
be  when  yonder  walls  chase  the  shadow  of  the  palm  up 
this  hill ;  and  then  will  Baba  Mustapha  be  joining  the  chorus 
of  creatures  that  shriek  toward  even  ere  they  snooze. 
There  's  not  an  ape  in  the  woods,  nor  hyaena  in  the  forest, 
nor  birds  on  the  branches,  nor  frogs  in  the  marsh  that  will 
outnoise   Baba   Mustapha   under   the   thong!    Wullahy, 


248  THE  .SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

'twill  p;riovo  his  soul  in  aftortimo  when  he  sittcth  secure  in 
honours,  courted,  with  a  thousand  ears  at  his  bidding,  that 
so  much  breath  'scaped  him  without  toll  of  the  tongue! 
But  as  the  poet  says  truly: 

"The  chariot  of  Events  liftcth  many  dusty  heels, 
And   many,   high  and  of  renown,   it  erusheth   with   its 
wheels." 

Wah !  I  have  had  my  share  of  the  thong,  and  am  I,  Master 
of  the  Event,  to  be  squeamish  in  attaining  an  end  by  its 
means?    Nay,  by  this  Sword!' 

Thereat,  he  strode  once  again  to  the  summit  of  the  hill, 
and  in  a  moment  the  Genii  fronted  him  like  two  shot 
arrows  quivering  from  the  flight.     So  he  cried,  '  It  is  done  ? ' 

They  answered,  '  In  faithfulness.' 

So  he  beckoned  to  Noorna,  and  she  came  forward  swiftly 
to  him,  exclaiming,  'I  read  the  plot,  and  the  thing  required 
of  me;  so  say  nought,  but  embrace  me  ere  I  leave  thee, 
my  betrothed,  my  master!' 

He  embraced  her,  and  led  her  to  where  the  Genii  stood. 
Then  said  he  to  the  Genii,  '  Convey  her  to  the  City,  O  ye 
slaves  of  the  Sword,  and  watch  over  her  there.  If  ye  let 
but  an  evil  wind  ruffle  the  hair  of  her  head,  lo!  I  sever  ye 
w^ith  a  stroke  that  shaketh  the  under  worlds.  Remain  by 
her  till  the  shrieks  of  Baba  Mustapha  greet  ye,  and  then 
will  follow  commotion  among  the  crowd,  and  cries  for 
Shag{)at  to  show  himself  to  the  people,  cries  also  of  death 
to  Fcshnavat;  and  there  will  be  an  assembly  in  the  King's 
Hall  of  Justice;  thither  lead  ye  my  betrothed,  and  watch 
over  her.'  And  he  said  to  Noorna,  'Thou  knowest  my 
design  ? ' 

So  she  said,  '  When  condemnation  is  passed  on  Fesh- 
navat,  that  I  appear  in  the  hall  as  bride  of  Shagpat,  and  so 
rescue  him  that  is  my  father.'  And  she  cried,  'Oh,  fair 
delightful  time  that  is  coming!  my  happiness  and  thy  hon- 


THE  PLOT  249 

our  on  earth  dateth  from  it.  Farewell,  O  my  betrothed, 
beloved  youth!  Eyes  of  mine!  these  Genii  will  be  by, 
and  there  's  no  cause  for  fear  or  sorrow,  and  'tis  for  thee  to 
look  like  morning  that  speeds  the  march  of  light.  Thou, 
my  betrothed,  art  thou  not  all  that  enslaveth  the  heart  of 
woman  ? ' 

Cried  Shibli  Bagarag,  'And  thou,  0  Nooma,  all  that 
enraptureth  the  soul  of  man!    Allah  keep  thee,  my  life!' 

Lo!  while  they  were  wasting  the  rich  love  in  their 
hearts,  the  Genii  rose  up  with  Noorna,  and  she,  waving 
her  hand  to  him,  was  soon  distant  and  as  the  white  breast 
of  a  bird  turned  to  the  sun.  Then  went  he  to  where 
Abarak  was  leaning,  and  summoned  Koorookh,  and  the 
twain  mounted  him,  and  rose  up  high  over  the  City  of 
Shagpat  to  watch  the  ripening  of  the  Event,  as  a  vulture 
watcheth  over  the  desert. 


250  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


THE  DISIT  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN 

Now,  in  the  City  of  Shagpat,  Kadza,  spouse  of  Shagpat, 
she  that  had  belaboured  ShibU  Bagarag,  had  a  dream 
wliile  these  things  were  doing;  and  it  was  a  dream  of 
danger  and  portent  to  the  glory  of  her  eyes,  Shagpat.  So, 
at  the  hour  when  he  was  revealed  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  made 
luminous  by  the  beams  of  Aklis,  Kadza  went  to  an  inner 
chamber,  and  greased  her  hands  and  her  eyelids,  and 
drank  of  a  phial,  and  commenced  tugging  at  a  brass  ring 
fixed  in  the  floor,  and  it  yielded  and  displayed  an  opening, 
over  which  she  stooped  the  upper  half  of  her  leanness,  and 
l)itching  her  note  high,  called  'Karaz!'  After  that,  she 
rose  and  retreated  from  the  hole  hastily,  and  in  the  wink- 
ing of  an  eye  it  was  filled,  as  'twere  a  pillar  of  black  smoke, 
by  the  body  of  the  Genie,  he  breathing  hard  with  mighty 
travel.  So  he  cried  to  her  between  his  pantings  and  puff- 
ings, 'Speak!  where  am  I  wanted,  and  for  what?' 

Now,  Kadza  was  affrighted  at  the  terribleness  of  his 
manner,  and  the  great  smell  of  the  Genie  was  an  intoxica- 
tion in  lier  nostril,  so  that  she  reeled  and  could  just  falter 
out,  'Danger  to  the  Identical!' 

Then  he,  in  a  voice  like  claps  of  thunder,  'Out  with  it!' 

She  answered  beseechingly,  "Tis  a  dream  I  had,  0 
Genie;   a  dream  of  danger  to  him.' 

While  she  spake,  the  Genie  clenched  his  fists  and  stamped 
so  that  the  palace  shook  and  the  earth  under  it,  exclaim- 
ing. 'O  abominable  Kadza!  a  dream  is  it?  another  dream? 
Wilt    thou    cease   dreaming   awhile,    thou   silly   woman? 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     251 

Know  I  not  he  that 's  powerful  against  us  is  in  Aklis, 
crowned  ape,  and  that  his  spells  are  gone?  And  I  was  dis- 
tilling drops  to  defy  the  Sword  and  strengthen  Shagpat 
from  assault,  yet  bringest  thou  me  from  my  labour  by  the 
Putrid  Sea  with  thy  accursed  dream ! '  Thereat,  he  frowned 
and  shot  fire  at  her  from  his  eyes,  so  that  she  singed,  and 
the  room  thickened  with  a  horrible  smell  of  burning.  She 
feared  greatly  and  trembled,  but  he  cooled  himself  against 
the  air,  crying  presently  in  a  diminished  voice,  *  Let 's  hear 
this  dream,  thou  foolish  Kadza!  'Tis  as  well  to  hear  it. 
Probably  Rabesqurat  hath  sent  thee  some  sign  from  Aklis, 
where  she  ferryeth  a  term.     What 's  that  saying: 

"A  woman  's  at  the  core  of  every  plot  man  plotteth, 
And  like  an  ill-reared  fruit,  first  at  the  core  it  rotteth." 

So,  out  with  it,  thou  Kadza!' 

Now,  the  urgency  of  that  she  had  dreamed  overcame 
fear  in  Kadza,  and  she  said,  '0  great  Genie  and  terrible, 
my  dream  was  this.  Lo!  I  saw  an  assemblage  of  the 
beasts  of  the  forests  and  them  that  inhabit  wild  places. 
And  there  was  the  elephant  and  the  rhinoceros  and  the 
hippopotamus,  and  the  camel  and  the  camelopard,  and 
the  serpent  and  the  striped  tiger;  also  the  antelope,  the 
hyaena,  the  jackal,  and  above  them,  eminent  in  majesty, 
the  lion.  Surely,  he  sat  as  'twere  on  a  high  seat,  and  they 
like  suppliants  thronging  the  presence:  this  I  saw,  the 
heart  on  my  ribs  beating  for  Shagpat.  And  there  ap- 
peared among  the  beasts  a  monkey  all  ajoint  with  tricks, 
jerking  with  malice,  he  looking  as  'twere  hungry  for  the 
doing  of  things  detestable;  and  the  lion  scorned  him,  and 
I  marked  him  ridicule  the  lion:  'twas  so.  And  the  lion 
began  to  scowl,  and  the  other  beasts  marked  the  displeas- 
ure of  the  lion.  Then  chased  they  that  monkey  from  the 
presence,  and  for  awhile  he  was  absent,  and  the  lion  sat  in 
his  place  gravely,  with  calm,  receiving  homage  of  the  other 


252  TllE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

lx»asts;  and  down  to  his  feet  came  the  eagle  that 's  lord  of 
air,  and  before  him  kneeled  the  great  elephant,  and  the 
subtle  serpent  eyed  him  with  awe.  But  soon  did  that 
monkey,  the  wretched  animal!  reappear,  and  there  was  no 
peace  for  the  lion,  he  worrying  till  close  within  stretch  of 
the  lion's  paw!  Wah!  the  Hon  might  have  crushed  him, 
but  that  he  's  magnanimous.  And  so  it  was  that  as  the 
monkey  advanced  the  lion  roared  to  him,  "Begone!" 

'And  the  monkey  cried,  "Who  commandeth?" 

'So  the  lion  roared,  "The  King  of  beasts  and  thy  King!" 

'Then  that  monkey  cried,  "Homage  to  the  King  of 
beasts  and  my  King!  Allah  keep  him  in  his  seat,  and  I 
would  he  were  visible." 

'So  the  lion  roared,  "He  sitteth  here  acknowledged,  thou 
graceless  animal!  and  he  's  before  thee  apparent." 

'Then  the  monkey  affected  eagerness,  and  gazed  about 
him,  and  peered  on  this  beast  and  on  that,  exclaiming  like 
one  that 's  injured  and  under  slight,  "What  's  this  I  've 
done,  and  wherein  have  I  offended,  that  he  should  be  hid- 
den from  me  when  pointed  out?" 

'So  the  lion  roared,  "Tis  I  where  I  sit,  thou  offensive 
monkey!" 

'Then  that  monkey  in  the  upper  pitch  of  amazement, 
"Thou!  Is  it  for  created  thing  to  acknowledge  a  king 
witliout  a  tail?  And,  O  beasts  of  the  forest  and  the  wil- 
derness, how  say  ye?  Am  I  to  blame  that  I  bow  not  to 
one  that  hath  it  not?" 

'Upon  that,  the  lion  rose,  and  roared  in  the  extreme  of 
wrath ;  but  the  word  he  was  about  to  utter  was  checked  in 
him,  for  'twas  manifest  that  where  he  would  have  lashed  a 
tail  he  shook  a  stump,  wagging  it  as  the  dog  doth.  Lo! 
when  the  lion  saw  that,  the  majesty  melted  from  him,  and 
in  a  moment  the  plumpness  of  content  and  prosperity  for- 
sook him,  so  that  his  tawny  skin  hung  flabbily  and  his  jaw 
drooped,  and  shame  deprived  him  of  stateliness;   abashed 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     253 

was  he!  Now,  seeing  the  lion  shamed  in  this  manner,  my 
heart  beat  violently  for  Shagpat,  so  that  I  awoke  with  the 
strength  of  its  beating,  and  'twas  hidden  from  me  whether 
the  monkey  was  punished  by  the  Hon,  or  exalted  by  the 
other  beasts  in  his  place,  or  how  came  it  that  the  lion's  tail 
was  lost,  witched  from  him  by  that  villain  of  mischief,  the 
monkey;  but,  0  great  Genie,  I  knew  there  was  a  lion 
among  men,  reverenced,  and  with  enemies;  that  lion,  he 
that  espoused  me  and  my  glory,  Shagpat!  'Twas  enough 
to  know  that  and  tremble  at  the  omen  of  my  dream,  0 
Genie.  Wherefore  I  thought  it  well  to  summon  thee  here, 
that  thou  mightest  set  a  guard  over  Shagpat,  and  shield 
him  from  the  treacheries  that  beset  him.' 

When  Kadza  had  ceased  speaking,  the  Genie  glowered 
at  her  awhile  in  silence.  Then  said  he,  'What  creature  is 
that,  0  Kadza,  which  tormenteth  hke  the  tongue  of  a 
woman,  is  small  as  her  pretensions  to  virtue,  and  which 
showeth  how  the  chapters  of  her  history  should  be  read  by 
the  holy  ones,  even  in  its  manner  of  movement?' 

Cried  Kadza,  'The  flea  that  hoppeth!' 

So  he  said,  "Tis  well!  Hast  thou  strength  to  carry  one 
of  my  weight,  0  Kadza?' 

She  answered  in  squeamishness,  'I,  wullahy!  I  'm  but  a 
woman,  0  Genie,  though  the  wife  of  Shagpat :  and  to  carry 
thee  is  for  the  camel  and  the  elephant  and  the  horse.' 

Then  he,  'Tighten  thy  girdle,  and  when  tightened,  let  a 
loose  loop  hang  from  it.' 

She  did  that,  and  he  gave  her  a  dark  powder  in  her  hand, 
saying,  '  Swallow  the  half  of  this,  and  what  remaineth  mix 
with  water,  and  sprinkle  over  thee.' 

That  did  she,  and  thereupon  he  exclaimed,  'Now  go, 
and  thy  part  is  to  move  round  Shagpat;  and  a  wind  will 
strike  thee  from  one  quarter,  and  from  which  quarter  it 
striketh  is  the  one  of  menace  and  danger  to  Shagpat.' 

So  Kadza  was  diligent  in  doing  what  the  Genie  com- 


254  TPIE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

mandod,  and  souglit  for  Shagpat,  and  moved  round  him 
many  times;  but  no  wind  struck  her.  She  went  back  to 
the  Genie,  and  told  iiim  of  this,  and  the  Genie  cried,  'What? 
no  wind?  not  one  from  AkHs?  Then  will  Shagpat  of  a 
surety  triumph,  and  we  with  him.' 

Now,  there  was  joy  on  the  features  of  Kadza  and  Karaz, 
till  suddenly  he  said,  'Halt  in  thy  song!  How  if  there  be 
danger  and  menace  above?  and  'tis  the  thing  that  may  be.' 

Then  he  seized  Kadza,  and  slung  her  by  him,  and  went 
into  the  air,  and  up  it  till  the  roofs  of  the  City  of  Shagpat 
were  beneath  their  feet,  all  on  them  visible.  And  under 
an  awning,  on  the  roof  of  a  palace,  there  was  the  Vizier 
Feshnavat  and  Baba  Mustapha,  they  ear  to  lip  in  consul- 
tation, and  Baba  Mustapha  brightening  with  the  matter 
revealed  to  him,  and  bobbing  his  head,  and  breaking  on 
the  speech  of  the  Vizier.  Now,  when  he  saw  them  the 
Genie  blew  from  his  nostrils  a  double  stream  of  darkness 
which  curled  in  a  thick  body  round  and  round  him,  and 
Kadza  slung  at  his  side  was  enveloped  in  it,  as  with  folds 
of  a  huge  serpent.  Then  the  Genie  hung  still,  and  lo!  two 
radiant  figures  swept  toward  the  roof  he  watched,  and  be- 
tween them  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  her  long  dark  hair  borne 
far  backward,  and  her  robe  of  silken  stuff  fluttering  and 
straining  on  the  pearl  buttons  as  she  flew.  There  was  that 
in  her  beauty  and  the  silver  clearness  of  her  temples  and  her 
eyes,  and  her  cheeks,  and  her  neck,  and  chin  and  ankles, 
that  made  the  Genie  shudder  with  love  of  her,  and  he  was 
nigh  droj)ping  Kadza  to  the  ground,  forgetful  of  all  save 
Noorna.  \Mien  he  recovered,  and  it  was  by  tightening  his 
muscles  till  Ik;  was  all  over  hard  knots,  Noorna  was  seated 
on  a  cushion,  and  descending  he  heard  her  sj)eak  his  name. 
Then  sniffed  he  the  air,  and  said  to  Kadza,  '0  spouse  of 
Shagpat,  a  j)lot  brewcth,  and  the  odour  of  it  is  in  my  nos- 
tril. Fearest  thou  a  scorching  for  his  sake  thou  adorest, 
the  miracle  of  men?' 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     255 

She  answered,  'On  my  head  be  it,  and  my  eyes!' 

He  said,  'I  shall  alight  thee  behind  the  pole  of  awning 
on  yonder  roof,  where  are  the  two  bright  figures  and  the 
dingy  one,  and  the  Vizier  Feshnavat  and  Noorna  bin 
Noorka.  A  flame  will  spring  up  severing  thee  from  them; 
but  thou  'rt  secure  from  it  by  reason  of  the  powder  I  gave 
thee,  all  save  the  hair  that 's  on  thee.  Thou  'It  have 
another  shape  than  that  which  is  thine,  even  that  of  a 
slave  of  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  and  say  to  her  when  she 
asketh  thy  business  with  her,  "0  my  mistress,  let  the 
storm  gather-in  the  storm-bird  when  it  would  surprise 
men."     Do  this,  and  thy  part 's  done,  0  Kadza!' 

Thereupon  he  swung  a  circle,  and  alighted  her  behind 
the  pole  of  awning  on  the  roof,  and  vanished,  and  the 
circle  of  flame  rose  up,  and  Kadza  passed  through  it 
slightly  scorched,  and  answered  to  the  question  of  Noorna, 
'0  my  mistress,  let  the  storm  gather-in  the  storm-bird 
when  it  would  surprise  men.'  Now,  when  Noorna  beheld 
her,  and  heard  her  voice,  she  pierced  the  disguise,  and  was 
ware  of  the  wife  of  Shagpat,  and  glanced  her  large  eyes 
over  Kadza  from  head  to  sole  till  they  rested  on  the  loose 
loop  in  her  girdle.  Seeing  that,  she  rose  up,  and  stretched 
her  arms,  and  spread  open  the  palm  of  her  hand,  and 
slapped  Kadza  on  the  cheek  and  ear  a  hard  slap,  so  that 
she  heard  bells;  and  ere  she  ceased  to  hear  them,  another, 
so  that  Kadza  staggered  back  and  screamed,  and  Feshnavat 
was  moved  to  exclaim,  'What  has  the  girl,  thy  favourite, 
offended  in,  0  my  daughter?' 

So  Noorna  continued  slapping  Kadza,  and  cried,  '  Is  she 
not  sluttish?  and  where  's  the  point  of  decency  established 
in  her,  this  Luloo  ?  Shall  her  like  appear  before  thee  and 
me  with  loose  girdle!' 

Then  she  pointed  to  the  girdle,  and  Kadza  tightened  the 
loose  loop,  and  fell  upon  the  ground  to  avoid  the  slaps,  and 
Noorna  knelt  by  her,  and  clutched  at  a  portion  of  her 


256  THE  SIL-VVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

dress  and  examined  it,  peering  intently;  and  she  caught 
up  another  part,  and  knotted  it  as  if  to  crush  a  living 
creature,  hunting  over  her,  and  grasping  at  her;  and  so  it 
Wius  that  while  she  tore  strips  from  the  garments  of  Kadza, 
Feshnavat  jumped  suddenly  in  wrath,  and  pinched  over 
his  garments,  crying,  "Tis  unbearable!  'Tis  I  know  not 
what  other  than  a  flea  that  persecuteth  me.' 

Upon  that,  Noorna  ran  to  him,  and  while  they  searched 
together  for  the  flea,  Baba  Mustapha  fidgeted  and  worried 
in  his  seat,  lurching  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  muttering 
curses;  and  it  was  evident  he  too  was  persecuted,  and 
there  was  no  peace  on  the  roof  of  that  palace,  but  pinching 
and  howling  and  stretching  of  Unibs,  and  curses  snarled  in 
the  throat  and  imprecations  on  the  head  of  the  tormenting 
flea.  Surely,  the  soul  of  Kadza  rejoiced,  for  she  knew  the 
flea  was  Karaz,  whom  she  had  brought  with  her  in  the 
loose  loop  of  her  girdle  through  the  circle  of  flame  which 
was  a  barrier  against  him.  She  glistened  at  the  triumph 
of  the  flea,  but  Noorna  strode  to  her,  and  took  her  to  the 
side  of  the  roof,  and  pitched  her  down  it,  and  closed  the 
passage  to  her.  Then  ran  she  to  Karavejis  and  Veejra- 
voosh,  whispering  in  the  ear  of  each,  'No  word  of  the 
Sword?'  and  afterward  aloud,  'WTiat  think  ye  will  be  the 
term  of  the  staying  of  my  betrothed  in  Aklis,  crowned  ape  ? ' 

They  answered,  '0  pearl  of  the  morn,  crowned  ape  till 
such  time  as  Shagpat  be  shaved.' 

So  she  beat  her  breast,  crying,  '  Oh,  utter  stagnation,  till 
Shagpat  be  shaved!  and  oh,  stoppage  in  the  tide  of  busi- 
ness, dense  cloud  upon  the  face  of  beauty,  and  frost  on  the 
river  of  events,  till  Shagpat  be  shaved!  And  oh!  my  be- 
trothed, crowned  ape  in  Aklis  till  Shagpat  be  shaved ! ' 

Then  she  lifted  her  hands  and  arms,  and  said,  'To  him 
where  he  is,  ye  Genii !  and  away,  for  he  needeth  comfort.' 

Thereat  the  glittering  spirits  dissolved  and  thinned,  and 
were  as  taper  gleams  of  curved  hght  across  the  water  in 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     257 

their  ascent  of  the  heavens.  When  they  were  gone  Noorna 
exclaimed,  'Now  for  the  dish  of  pomegranate  grain,  O 
Baba  Mustapha,  and  let  nothing  delay  us  further.' 

Quoth  Baba  Mustapha,  '  'Tis  ordered,  O  my  princess  and 
fair  mistress,  from  the  confectioner's;  and  with  it  the  sleepy 
drug  from  the  seller  of  medicaments — 0  accursed  flea!' 

Now,  she  laughed,  and  said,  '  What  am  I,  0  Baba  Mus- 
tapha?' 

So  he  said,  '  Not  thou,  0  bright  shooter  of  beams,  but  I, 
wullahy!  I  'm  but  a  bundle  of  points  through  the  per- 
tinacity of  this  flea!  a  house  of  irritabilities!  a  mere  mass 
of  fretfulness!  and  I  've  no  thought  but  for  the  chasing  of 
this  unlucky  flea:  was  never  flea  like  it  in  the  world  before 
this  flea;  and  'tis  a  flea  to  anger  the  holy  ones,  and  make 
the  saintly  Der\dsh  swear  at  such  a  flea.'  He  wTiggled  and 
curled  where  he  sat,  and  Noorna  cried,  'AMiat!  shall  we  be 
defeated  by  a  flea,  we  that  would  shave  Shagpat,  and  re- 
lease this  city  and  the  world  from  bondage?'  And  she 
looked  up  to  the  sky  that  was  then  without  a  cloud,  bla- 
zing with  the  sun  on  his  mid  seat,  and  exclaimed,  '  0  star  of 
Shagpat!  wilt  thou  constantly  be  in  the  ascendant,  and 
defeat  us,  the  liberators  of  men,  with  a  flea?' 

Now,  whenever  one  of  the  twain,  Baba  Mustapha  and 
the  Vizier  Feshnavat,  commenced  speaking  of  the  dish  of 
pomegranate  grain,  the  torment  of  the  flea  took  all  tongue 
from  him,  and  was  destruction  to  the  gravity  of  council 
and  deliberation.  The  dish  of  pomegranate  grain  was 
brought  to  them  by  slaves,  and  the  drug  to  induce  sleep, 
yet  neither  could  say  aught  concerning  it,  they  were  as 
jointy  grasshoppers  through  the  action  of  the  flea,  and  the 
torment  of  the  flea  became  a  madness,  they  shrieking, 
"Tis  now  with  thee!  'Tis  now  with  me!  Fires  of  the 
danmed  on  this  flea!'  In  their  extremity,  they  called  to 
Allah  for  help,  but  no  help  came,  save  when  they  aban- 
doned all  speech  concerning  the  dish  of  pomegranate  grain. 


258  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

then  were  they  for  a  nioment  cased  of  the  flea.  So  Noorna 
reco<];nize(I  the  presence  of  her  enemy  Karaz,  and  his  mali- 
cious working;  and  she  went  and  fetched  a  jar  brimmed 
with  water  for  the  bath,  and  stirred  it  with  her  forefinger, 
and  tlrew  on  it  a  flame  from  the  rays  of  the  sun  till  there 
rose  up  from  the  jar  a  white  thick  smoke.  She  rustled  her 
raiment,  making  the  wind  of  it  collect  round  Baba  Mus- 
tapha  and  Feshnavat,  and  did  this  till  the  sweat  streamed 
from  their  brows  and  bodies,  and  they  were  sensible  of 
peace  and  the  absence  of  the  flea.  Then  she  whisked  away 
the  smoke,  and  they  were  attended  by  slaves  with  fi-esh 
robes,  and  were  as  new  men,  and  sat  together  over  the  dish 
of  pomegranate  grain,  praising  the  wisdom  of  Noorna  and 
her  power.  Then  Baba  Mustapha  revived  in  briskness, 
and  cried,  'Here  the  dish!  and  'tis  in  my  hands  an  instru- 
ment, an  instrument  of  vengeance!  and  one  to  endow  the 
skilful  wielder  of  it  with  glory.  And  'tis  as  I  designed  it, — 
sweet,  seasoned,  savoury, — a  flattery  to  the  eye  and  no 
deceiver  to  the  palate.  Wah!  and  such  an  instrument  in 
the  hands  of  the  discerning  and  the  dexterous,  and  the  dis- 
creet and  the  judicious,  and  them  gifted  with  determina- 
tion, is  't  not  such  as  sufficeth  for  the  overturning  of  em- 
pires and  systems,  0  my  mistress,  fair  one,  sapphire  of  this 
city?  And  is  't  not  written  that  I  shall  beguile  Shagpat 
by  its  means,  and  master  the  Event,  and  shame  the  King  of 
Oolb  and  his  Court?  And  I  shall  then  sit  in  state  among 
men,  and  surround  myself  with  adornments  and  with 
slaves,  nmte,  that  speak  not  save  at  the  signal,  and  are  as 
statues  round  the  cushions  of  their  lord — that 's  myself. 
And  I  shall  surround  myself  with  the  flatteries  of  wealth, 
and  walk  bewildered  in  silks  and  stuffs  and  perfumeries; 
and  sweet  young  beauties  shall  I  have  about  me,  antelopes 
of  grace,  as  I  like  them,  and  select  them,  long-eyed,  lazy, 
fond  of  listening,  and  with  bashful  looks  that  timidly  ad- 
mire the  dignity  that 's  in  man.' 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     259 

While  he  was  prating  Noorna  took  the  dish  in  her  lap, 
and  folded  her  silvery  feet  beneath  her,  and  commenced 
whipping  into  it  the  drug:  and  she  whipped  it  dexterously 
and  with  equal  division  among  the  grain,  whipping  it  and 
the  flea  with  it,  but  she  feigned  not  to  mark  the  flea  and 
whipped  harder.  Then  took  she  colour  and  coloured  it 
saffron,  and  laid  over  it  gold-leaf,  so  that  it  glittered  and 
was  an  enticing  sight;  and  the  dish  was  of  gold,  crusted 
over  with  devices  and  patterns,  and  heads  of  golden  mon- 
sters, a  ravishment  of  skill  in  him  that  executed  it,  cumbrous 
with  ornate  golden  workmanship;  likewise  there  were 
places  round  the  dish  for  sticks  of  perfume  and  cups  carved 
for  the  storing  of  perfumed  pellets,  and  into  these  Noorna 
put  myrrh  and  ambergris  and  rich  incenses,  aloes,  sandal- 
wood, prepared  essences,  divers  keen  and  sweet  scents. 
Then  when  all  was  in  readiness,  she  put  the  dish  upon  the 
knee  of  Baba  Mustapha,  and  awoke  him  from  his  babbhng 
reverie  with  a  shout,  and  said,  'An  instrument  verily,  O 
Baba  Mustapha!  and  art  thou  a  cat  to  shave  Shagpat  with 
that  tongue  of  thine  ? ' 

Now,  he  arose  and  made  the  sign  of  obedience  and  said, 
'  'Tis  well,  O  lady  of  grace  and  bright  wit!  and  now  for  the 
cap  of  Shiraz  and  the  Persian  robe,  and  my  twenty  slaves 
and  seven  to  follow  me  to  the  mansion  of  Shagpat.  I  '11 
do:  I '11  act.' 

So  she  motioned  to  a  slave  to  bring  the  cap  of  Shiraz  and 
the  Persian  robe,  and  in  these  Baba  Mustapha  arrayed 
himself.  Then  called  he  for  the  twent3^-and-seven  slaves, 
and  they  were  ranged,  some  to  go  before,  some  to  follow 
him.  And  he  was  exalted,  and  made  the  cap  of  Shiraz 
nod  in  his  conceit,  crying,  'Am  I  not  leader  in  this  com- 
plot?  Wullahy!  all  bow  to  me  and  acknowledge  it.' 
Then,  to  check  himself,  he  called  out  sternly  to  the  slaves, 
'  Ho  ye!  forward  to  the  mansion  of  Shagpat;  and  pass  at  a 
slow  pace  through  the  streets  of  the  city — solemnly,  gravely, 


200  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

as  before  a  potentate;  then  will  the  people  inquire  of  yc, 
Who  't  is  ye  marshal,  and  what  mighty  one?  and  ye  will 
answer,  He  's  from  the  court  of  Shiraz, — nothing  less  than 
a  Vizier — bearing  homage  to  Shagpat,  even  this  dish  of 
pomegranate  grain.' 

So  they  said,  'To  hear  is  to  obey.' 

Upon  that  he  waved  his  hand  and  stalked  majestically, 
and  they  descended  from  the  roof  into  the  street,  criers 
running  in  front  to  clear  the  way.  When  Baba  Mustapha 
was  hidden  from  view  by  a  corner  of  the  street,  Noorna 
shrank  in  her  white  shoulders  and  laughed,  and  was  like  a 
flashing  pearl  as  she  swayed  and  dimpled  with  laughter. 
And  she  cried,  'True  are  those  words  of  the  poet,  and  I 
testify  to  them  in  the  instance  of  Baba  Mustapha: 

"With  feathers  of  the  cock,  I  '11  fashion  a  vain  creature; 
With  feathers  of  the  owl,  I  '11  make  a  judge  in  feature"; 

Is  not  the  barber  elate  and  lofty?  He  goeth  forth  to  the 
mastery  of  this  Event  as  go  many,  armed  with  nought 
other  than  their  own  conceit:  and  'tis  written: 

"Fools  from  their  fate  seek  not  to  urge: 
The  coxcomb  carrietli  his  scourge."  ' 

So  Feshnavat  smoothed  his  face,  and  said,  '  Is  't  not  also 
written  ? — 

"Oft  may  the  fall  of  fools  make  wise  men  moan! 
Too  often  hangs  the  house  on  one  loose  stone!" 

'Tis  so,  0  Noorna,  my  daughter,  and  I  am  as  a  reed  shaken 
by  the  wind  of  apprehensiveness,  and  doubt  in  me  is  a  deep 
root  as  to  the  issue  of  this  undertaking,  for  the  wrath  of 
the  King  will  be  terrible,  and  the  clamour  of  the  people 
soundcth  in  my  ears  already.  If  Shibli  Bagarag  fail  in  one 
stroke,  where  be  we?     'Tis  certain  I  knew  not  the  might 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     261 

in  Shagpat  when  I  strove  with  him,  and  he  's  powerful 
beyond  the  measure  of  man's  subtlety;  and  yonder  flies 
a  rook  without  fellow — an  omen;  and  all 's  ominous,  and 
ominous  of  ill:  and  I  marked  among  the  troop  of  slaves 
that  preceded  Baba  Mustapha  one  that  squinted,  and  that 's 
an  omen;  and,  0  my  daughter,  I  counsel  that  thou  by  thy 
magic  speed  us  to  some  remote  point  in  the  Caucasus, 
where  we  may  abide  the  unravelling  of  this  web  securely, 
one  way  or  the  other  way.     'Tis  my  counsel,  0  Noorna.' 

Then  she,  '  Abandon  my  betrothed  ?  and  betray  him  on 
the  very  stroke  of  the  Sword  ?  and  diminish  him  by  a  with- 
drawal of  that  faith  in  his  right  wrist  which  strengtheneth 
it  more  than  Karavejis  and  Veejravoosh  wound  round  it  in 
coils?'  And  she  leaned  her  head,  and  cried,  'Hark! 
hear'st  thou  ?  there  's  shouting  in  the  streets  of  Shiraz  and 
of  Shagpat!  Shall  we  merit  the  punishment  of  Shahpesh 
the  Persian  on  Khipil  the  builder,  while  the  Event  is  mas- 
tering? I  '11  mark  this  interview  between  Baba  Mustapha 
and  Shagpat;  and  do  thou,  0  my  father,  rest  here  on  this 
roof  till  the  King's  guard  of  horsemen  and  soldiers  of  the 
law  come  hither  for  thee,  and  go  with  them  sedately,  fear- 
ing nought,  for  I  shall  be  by  thee  in  the  garb  of  an  old 
woman;  and  preserve  thy  composure  in  the  presence  of 
the  King  and  Shagpat  exalted,  and  allow  not  the  thing  that 
happeneth  let  fly  from  thee  the  shaft  of  speech,  but  remain 
a  slackened  bow  till  the  strength  of  my  betrothed  is  testi- 
fied, fearing  nought,  for  fear  is  that  which  defeateth  men, 
and  'tis  declared  in  a  distich, — 

"The  strongest  weapon  one  can  see 
In  mortal  hands  is  constancy." 

And  for  us  to  flee  now  would  rank  us  with  that  King 
described  by  the  poet: 

"A  king  of  Ind  there  was  who  fought  a  fight 
From  the  first  gleam  of  morn  till  fall  of  night; 


262  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

But  when  the  royal  tent  his  generals  sought, 
Proclauning  victory,  fled  was  he  who  fought. 
Despair  possessed  them,  till  they  chanced  to  spy 
A  Dervish  that  paced  on  with  downward  eye; 
They  (juestioned  of  the  King;   he  answer'd  slow, 
*Ye  fought  but  one,  the  King  a  double,  foe.'  " 

And,  O  my  father,  they  interpreted  of  this  that  the  King 
had  been  vanquished,  he  that  was  victor,  by  the  phantom 
army  of  his  fears.' 

Now,  the  Vizier  cried,  '  Be  the  will  of  Allah  achieved  and 
consuniniated ! '  and  he  was  silenced  by  her  wisdom  and 
urgency,  and  sat  where  he  was,  diverting  not  the  arch  on 
his  brow  from  its  settled  furrow.  He  was  as  one  that 
thirsteth,  and  whose  eye  hath  marked  a  snake  of  swift 
poison  by  the  water,  so  thirsted  he  for  the  Event,  yet  hung 
with  dread  from  advancing;  but  Noorna  bin  Noorka 
busied  herself  about  the  roof,  drawing  circles  to  witness 
the  track  of  an  enemy,  and  she  clapped  her  hands  and  cried, 
'Luloo!'  and  lo,  a  fair  slave-girl  that  came  to  her  and  stood 
by  with  bent  head,  like  a  whi'te  lily  by  a  milk-white  ante- 
lope; so  Noorna  clouded  her  brow  a  moment,  as  when  the 
moon  darkencth  behind  a  scud,  and  cried,  '  Speak !  art  thou 
in  league  with  Karaz,  girl?' 

Luloo  strained  her  hands  to  her  temples,  exclaiming, 
'With  the  terrible  Genie? — I? — in  league  with  him?  O 
my  mistress,  surely  the  charms  I  wear,  and  the  amulets,  I 
wear  them  as  a  protection  from  that  Genie,  and  a  safe- 
guard, he  that  carrieth  off  the  maidens  and  the  young 
sucklings,  walking  under  the  curse  of  mothers.' 

Said  Noorna,  '  0  Luloo,  have  I  boxed  those  little  ears  of 
thine  this  day?' 

The  fair  slave-girl  smiled  a  smile  of  submissive  tender- 
ness, and  answered,  'Not  this  day,  nor  once  since  Luloo 
was  rescued  from  the  wicked  old  merchant  by  thy  over- 
bidding, and  was  taken  to  the  arms  of  a  wise  kind  sister, 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     263 

wiser  and  kinder  than  any  she  had  been  stolen  from,  she 
that  is  thy  slave  for  ever.' 

She  said  this  weeping,  and  Noorna  mused,  "Twas  as  I 
divined,  that  wretched  Kadza:  her  grief's  to  come!' 
Then  spake  she  aloud  as  to  herself,  '  Knew  I,  or  could  one 
know,  I  should  this  day  be  a  bride  ? '  And,  hearing  that, 
Luloo  shrieked,  'Thou  a  bride,  and  torn  from  me,  and  we 
two  parted?  and  I,  a  poor  drooping  tendril,  left  to  wither? 
for  my  life  is  round  thee  and  worthless  away  from  thee,  0 
cherisher  of  the  fallen  flower.' 

And  she  sobbed  out  wailful  verses  and  words,  broken 
and  without  a  meaning;  but  Noorna  caught  her  by  the 
arm  and  swung  her,  and  bade  her  fetch  on  the  instant  a 
robe  of  blue,  and  pile  in  her  chamber  robes  of  amber  and 
saffron  and  grey,  bridal-robes  of  many-lighted  silks,  plum- 
coloured,  peach-coloured,  of  the  colour  of  musk  mixed  with 
pale  gold,  together  with  bridal  ornaments  and  veils  of  the 
bride,  and  a  jewelled  circlet  for  the  brow.  When  this  was 
done,  Noorna  went  with  Luloo  to  her  chamber,  attended 
by  slave-girls,  and  arrayed  herself  in  the  first  dress  of  blue, 
and  swayed  herself  before  the  mirror,  and  rattled  the  gold 
pieces  in  her  hair  and  on  her  neck  with  laughter.  And 
Luloo  was  bewildered,  and  forgot  her  tears  to  watch  the 
gaiety  of  her  mistress;  and  lo!  Noorna  made  her  women 
take  off  one  set  of  ornaments  with  every  dress,  and  with 
every  dress  she  put  on  another  set ;  and  after  she  had  gone 
the  round  of  the  different  dresses,  she  went  to  the  bath- 
room with  Luloo,  and  at  her  bidding  Luloo  entered  the 
bath  beside  Noorna,  and  the  twain  dipped  and  shouldered 
in  the  blue  water,  and  were  as  when  a  single  star  is  by  the 
full  moon  on  a  bright  midnight  pouring  lustre  about. 
And  Noorna  splashed  Luloo,  and  said,  '  This  night  we  shall 
not  sleep  together,  O  Luloo,  nor  lie  close,  thy  bosom  on 
mine.' 

Thereat,  Luloo  wept  afresh,  and  cried,  'Ah,  cruel!  and 


264  THE  SILWING  OF  SHAGPAT 

'tis  a  sweet  thought  for  thco,  and  thou  'It  have  no  mind 
for  nio,  tossing  on  my  hatoful  lonely  couch.' 

Tenderly  Noorna  eyed  Luloo,  and  the  sprinkles  of  the 
bath  fell  with  the  tears  of  both,  and  they  clung  together, 
and  were  like  the  lily  and  its  bud  on  one  stalk  in  a  shower. 
Then,  when  Noorna  had  spent  her  affection,  she  said,  'O 
thou  of  the  long  downward  lashes,  thy  love  was  constant 
when  I  stood  under  a  curse  and  was  an  old  woman — a  hag! 
Carest  thou  so  little  to  learn  the  name  of  him  that  claimeth 
me?' 

Luloo  replied,  '  I  thought  of  no  one  save  myself  and  my 
loss,  O  my  lost  pearl;  happy  is  he,  a  youth  of  favour. 
Oh,  how  I  shall  hate  him  that  taketh  thee  from  me.  Tell 
me  now  his  name,  0  sovereign  of  hearts!' 

So  Noorna  smoothed  the  curves  and  corners  of  her 
mouth  and  calmed  her  countenance,  crying  in  a  deep  tone 
and  a  voice  as  of  reverence,  'Shagpat!' 

Now,  at  that  name  Luloo  drank  in  her  breath  and  was 
awed,  and  sank  in  herself,  and  had  just  words  to  ask, 
'  Ilath  he  demanded  thee  again  in  marriage,  0  my  mistress  ? ' 

Said  Noorna,  '  Even  so.' 

Luloo  muttered,  'Great  is  the  Dispenser  of  our  fates!' 

And  she  spake  no  further,  but  sighed  and  took  napkins 
and  summoned  the  slave-girls,  and  arrayed  Noorna  silently 
in  the  robe  of  blue  and  bridal  ornaments.  Then  Noorna 
said  to  them  that  thronged  about  her,  '  Put  on,  each  of  ye, 
a  robe  of  white,  ye  that  are  maidens,  and  a  fillet  of  blue, 
and  a  sash  of  saffron,  and  abide  my  coming.' 

And  she  said  to  Luloo,  'Array  thyself  in  a  robe  of  blue, 
even  as  mine,  and  let  trinkets  lurk  in  thy  tresses,  and 
abide  my  coming.' 

Then  went  she  forth  from  them,  and  veiled  her  head 
and  swathed  her  figure  in  raiment  of  a  coarse  white  stuff, 
and  was  as  the  moon  going  behind  a  hill  of  dusky  snow; 
and  she  left  the  house,  and  piissed  along  the  streets  and 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     265 

by  the  palaces,  till  she  came  to  the  palace  of  her  father, 
now  filled  by  Shagpat.  Before  the  palace  grouped  a  great 
concourse  and  a  multitude  of  all  ages  and  either  sex  in  that 
city,  despite  the  blaze  and  the  heat.  Like  roaring  of  a 
sea  beyond  the  mountains  was  the  noise  that  issued  from 
them,  and  their  eyes  were  a  fire  of  beams  against  the  por- 
tal of  the  palace.  Now,  she  saw  in  the  crowd  one  Shafrac, 
a  shoemaker,  and  addressed  him,  saying,  '0  Shafrac,  the 
shoemaker,  what 's  this  assembly  and  how  got  together? 
for  the  poet  says: 

"Ye  string  not  such  assemblies  in  the  street, 
Save  when  some  high  Event  should  be  complete."  * 

He  answered,  "Tis  an  Event  complete.  WuUahy!  the 
deputation  from  Shiraz  to  Shagpat,  and  the  submission  of 
that  vain  city  to  the  might  of  Shagpat.'  And  he  asked 
her,  jestingly,  'Art  thou  a  witch,  to  guess  that,  O  veiled 
and  virtuous  one?' 

Quoth  she,  '  I  read  the  thing  that  cometh  ere  'tis  come, 
and  I  read  danger  to  Shagpat  in  this  deputation  from 
Shiraz,  and  this  dish  of  pomegranate  grain.' 

So  Shafrac  cried,  'By  the  beard  of  my  fathers  and  that 
of  Shagpat!  let 's  speak  of  this  to  Zeel,  the  garlic-seller.' 

He  broadened  to  one  that  was  by  him,  and  said,  '0 
Zeel,  what 's  thy  mind  ?  Here  's  a  w^oman,  a  wise  woman, 
a  witch,  and  she  sees  danger  to  Shagpat  in  this  deputation 
from  Shiraz  and  this  dish  of  pomegranate  grain.' 

Now,  Zeel  screwed  his  visage  and  gazed  up  into  his  fore- 
head, and  said,  '  'Twere  best  to  consult  with  Bootlbac,  the 
drum-beater.' 

The  two  then  called  to  Bootlbac,  the  drum-beater,  and 
told  him  the  matter,  and  Bootlbac  pondered,  and  tapped 
his  brow  and  beat  on  his  stomach,  and  said,  'Krooz  el 
Krazawik,  the  carrier,  is  good  in  such  a  case.' 


266  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

Now,  from  Krooz  el  Krazawik,  the  carrier,  they  went 
to  Dob,  the  confectioner;  and  from  Dob,  the  confectioner, 
to  Azawool,  the  builder;  and  from  Azawool,  the  builder, 
to  Tcheik,  the  collector  of  taxes;  and  each  referred  to 
some  other,  till  perplexity  triumphed  and  was  a  cloud 
over  them,  and  the  words,  'Danger  to  Shagpat,'  went 
about  like  bees,  and  were  canvassing,  when  suddenly  a 
shrill  voice  rose  from  the  midst,  dominating  other  voices, 
and  it  was  that  of  Kadza,  and  she  cried,  'Who  talks  here 
of  danger  to  Shagpat,  and  what  wretch  is  it?' 

Now,  Tcheik  pointed  out  Azawool,  and  Azawool  Dob, 
and  Dob  Krooz  el  Krazawik,  and  he  Bootlbac,  and  the 
drum-beater  shrugged  his  shoulder  at  Zeel,  and  Zeel  stood 
away  from  Shafrac,  and  Shafrac  seized  Noorna  and  shouted, 
"Tis  she,  this  woman,  the  witch!' 

Kadza  fronted  Noorna,  and  called  to  her,  '0  thing  of 
infamy,  what 's  this  talk  of  thine  concerning  danger  to 
our  glory,  Shagpat  ? ' 

Then  Noorna  replied,  'I  say  it,  0  Kadza!  and  I  say  it; 
there  's  danger  threateneth  him,  and  from  that  deputation 
and  that  dish  of  pomegranate  grain.' 

Now,  Kadza  laughed  a  loose  laugh,  and  jeered  at  Noorna, 
cr>ing,  'Danger  to  Shagpat!  he  that 's  attended  by  Genii, 
and  watched  over  by  the  greatest  of  them,  day  and  night 
incessantly?' 

And  Noorna  said,  '  I  ask  pardon  of  the  Power  that  seeth, 
and  of  thee,  if  I  be  wrong.  Wah!  am  I  not  also  of  them 
that  watch  over  Shagpat?  So  then  let  thou  and  I  go  into 
the  palace  and  examine  the  doings  of  this  deputation  and 
this  dish  of  pomegranate  grain.' 

Now,  Kadza  remcmberotl  the  scene  on  the  roofs  of  the 
Vizier  Feshnavat,  and  rela.xetl  in  her  look  of  suspicion,  and 
said,  "Tis  well!     Let 's  in  to  them.' 

Thereupon  the  twain  threaded  through  the  crowd  and 
knocked  at  the  portals  of  the  palace,  and  it  was  opened 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     267 

to  them  and  they  entered,  and  lo!  the  hand  that  opened 
the  portals  was  the  hand  of  a  slave  of  the  Sword,  and 
against  corners  of  the  Court  leaned  slaves  silly  with  slum- 
ber. So  Kadza  went  up  to  them,  and  beat  them,  and 
shook  them,  and  they  yawned  and  mumbled,  'Excellent 
grain!  good  grain!  the  grain  of  Shiraz!'  And  she  beat 
them  with  what  might  was  hers,  till  some  fell  sideways 
and  some  forward,  still  mumbling,  '  Excellent  pomegranate 
grain!'  Kadza  was  beside  herself  with  anger  and  vexa- 
tion at  them,  tearing  them  and  cuffing  them;  but  Noorna 
cried, '  0  Kadza !  what  said  I  ?  there  's  danger  to  Shagpat 
in  this  dish  of  pomegranate  grain!  and  what 's  that  saying 

"  'Tis  much  against  the  Master's  wish 
That  slaves  too  greatly  praise  his  dish." 

Wullahy!    I  like  not  this  talk  of  the  grain  of  Shiraz.' 

Now,  while  Noorna  spake,  the  eyes  of  Kadza  became 
like  those  of  the  starved  wild-cat,  and  she  sprang  off  and 
along  the  marble  of  the  Court,  and  clawed  a  passage 
through  the  air  and  past  the  marble  pillars  of  the  palace 
toward  the  first  room  of  reception,  Noorna  following  her. 
And  in  the  first  room  were  slaves  leaning  and  lolling  like 
them  about  the  Court,  and  in  the  second  room  and  in  the 
third  room,  silent  all  of  them  and  senseless.  So  at  this 
sight  the  spark  of  suspicion  became  a  mighty  flame  in  the 
bosom  of  Kadza,  and  horror  burst  out  at  all  ends  of  her, 
and  she  shuddered,  and  cried,  '  What  for  us,  and  where  's 
our  hope  if  Shagpat  be  shorn,  and  he  lopped  of  the  Iden- 
tical, shamed  like  the  lion  of  my  dream!' 

And  Noorna  clasped  her  hands,  and  said,  "Tis  that  I 
fear!    Seek  for  him,  O  Kadza!' 

So  Kadza  ran  to  a  window  and  looked  forth  over  the 
garden  of  the  palace,  and  it  was  a  fair  garden  with  the 
gleam  of  a  fountain  and  watered  plants  and  cool  arches 
of  shade,   thick  bowers,   fragrant   alleys,   long  sheltered 


26S  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

terraces,  and  beyond  the  garden  a  summer-house  of  marble 
fanned  by  the  broad  leaves  of  a  palm.  Now,  when  Kadza 
had  gazed  a  moment,  she  shrieked,  'He  's  there!  Shagpat! 
giveth  he  not  the  light  of  a  jewel  to  the  house  that  hold- 
cth  him?  Awahy!  and  he  's  witched  there  for  an  ill 
pur])osc/ 

Then  tore  she  from  that  room  like  a  mad  wild  thing 
after  its  stolen  cubs,  and  sped  along  corridors  of  the  palace, 
and  down  the  great  flight  of  steps  into  the  garden  and 
across  the  garden,  knocking  over  the  ablutlon-pots  in  her 
haste;  and  Noorna  had  just  strength  to  withhold  her  from 
dashing  through  the  doors  of  the  summer-house  to  come 
upon  Shagpat,  she  straining  and  crying,  '  He  's  there,  I  say, 
O  wise  woman!    Shagpat!  let 's  in  to  him.' 

But  Noorna  clung  to  her,  and  spake  in  her  ear,  'Wilt 
thou  blow  the  fire  that  menaces  him,  O  Kadza?  and  what 
are  two  women  against  the  assailants  of  such  a  mighty  one 
as  he?'  Then  said  she,  'Watch,  rather,  and  avail  thyself 
of  yonder  window  by  the  blue-painted  pillar.' 

So  Kadza  crept  up  to  the  blue-painted  pillar  which  was 
on  the  right  side  of  the  porch,  and  the  twain  ptiered  through 
the  window.  Noorna  beheld  the  Dish  of  Pomegranate 
Grain;  and  it  was  on  the  floor,  empty  of  the  grain,  and 
Baba  Mustapha  was  by  it  alone  making  a  lather,  and  he 
was  twitching  his  mouth  and  his  legs,  and  flinging  about 
his  arms,  and  Noorna  heard  him  mutter  wrathfuUy,  'O 
accursed  flea!  art  thou  at  me  again?'  And  she  heard  him 
mutter  as  in  anguish, '  No  peace  for  thee,  O  pertinacious  flea! 
and  my  steadiness  of  hand  will  be  gone,  now  when  I  have 
him  safe  as  the  hawk  his  prey,  mine  enemy,  this  Shagpat 
that  al)used  me:  thou  abominable  flea!  And,  O  thou  flea, 
wilt  thou,  vile  thing!  hinder  me  from  mastering  the  Event, 
and  releasing  this  people  and  the  world  from  enchantment 
and  bondage?  And  shall  I  fail  to  become  famous  to  the 
ages  and  the  times  because  of  such  as  thee,  0  flea?' 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     269 

So  Kadza  whispered  to  Noorna,  'What's  that  he's 
muttering?  Is  't  of  Shagpat?  for  I  mark  him  not  here, 
nor  the  light  by  which  he  's  girt.' 

She  answered,  '  Listen  with  the  ear  and  the  eye  and  all 
the  senses.' 

Now,  presently  they  heard  Baba  Mustapha  say  in  a 
louder  tone,  like  one  that  is  secure  from  interruption, 
'Two  lathers,  and  this  the  third!  a  potent  lather!  and  I 
wot  there  's  not  a  hair  in  this  world  resisteth  the  sweep  of 
my  blade  over  such  a  lather  as — ^Ah!  flea  of  iniquity  and 
abomination!  what!  am  I  doomed  to  thy  torments? — so 
let 's  spread!  Lo!  this  lather,  is  't  not  the  pride  of  Shiraz? 
and  the  polish  and  smoothness  it  sheddeth,  is  't  not  roseate? 
my  invention!  as  the  poet  says, — 0  accursed  flea!  now  the 
knee-joint,  now  the  knee-cap,  and  'tis  but  a  hop  for  thee 
to  the  arm-pit.  Fires  of  the  pit  without  bottom  seize  thee! 
is  no  place  sacred  from  thee,  and  art  thou  a  restless  soul, 
infernal  flea?  So  then,  peace  awhile,  and  here  's  for  the 
third  lather.' 

While  he  was  speaking  Baba  Mustapha  advanced  to  a 
large  white  object  that  sat  motionless,  upright  like  a 
snow-mound  on  a  throne  of  cushions,  and  commenced 
lathering.  When  she  saw  that,  Kadza  tossed  up  her  head 
and  her  throat,  and  a  shriek  was  coming  from  her,  for  she 
was  ware  of  Shagpat;  but  Noorna  stifled  the  shriek,  and 
clutched  her  fast,  whispering,  '  He  's  safe  if  thou  have  but 
patience,  thou  silly  Kadza!  and  the  flea  will  defeat  this 
fellow  if  thou  spoil  it  not.' 

So  Kadza  said,  lookmg  up,  '  Is  't  seen  of  Allah,  and  be 
the  Genii  still  in  their  depths  ? '  but  she  constrained  herself, 
peering  and  perking  out  her  chin,  and  lifting  one  foot  and 
the  other  foot,  as  on  furnaces  of  fire  in  the  excess  of  the 
fury  she  smothered.  And  lo,  Baba  Mustapha  worked  dili- 
gently, and  Shagpat  was  behind  an  exulting  lather,  even 
as  one  pelted  with  wheaten  flour-balls  or  balls  of  powdery 


270  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

])erfuiiio,  and  his  hairiness  was  as  branches  of  the  forest. 
f()Ha<:;e  bent  under  a  sudden  fall  of  overwhelming  snow 
that  fillet h  the  pits  and  sharpeneth  the  wolves  with  hunger, 
and  teacheth  new  cumiing  to  the  fox.  A  fox  was  Baba 
Mustapha  in  his  stratagems,  and  a  wolf  in  the  fierceness  of 
his  setting  upon  Shagpat.  Surely  he  drew  forth  the  blade 
that  was  to  shear  Shagpat,  and  made  with  it  in  the  air  a 
preparatory  sweep  and  flourish;  and  the  blade  frolicked 
and  sent  forth  a  light,  and  seemed  eager  for  Shagpat.  So 
Baba  Mustapha  addressed  his  arm  to  the  shearing,  and  in- 
clined gently  the  edge  of  the  blade,  and  they  marked  him 
let  it  slide  twice  to  a  level  with  the  head  of  Shagpat,  and  at 
the  third  time  it  touched,  and  Kadza  howled,  but  from 
Baba  Mustapha  there  burst  a  howl  to  madden  the  beasts; 
and  he  flung  up  his  blade,  and  wrenched  open  his  robe,  cry- 
ing, 'A  flea  was  it  to  bite  in  that  fashion?  Now,  I  swear  by 
the  Merciful,  a  fang  Hke  that 's  common  to  tigers  and 
hyaenas  and  ferocious  animals.' 

Then  looked  he  for  the  mark  of  the  bite,  plaining  of  its 
pang,  and  he  could  find  the  mark  nowhere.  So,  as  he 
caressed  himself,  eyeing  Shagpat  sheepishly  and  with 
gathering  awe,  Noorna  said  hurriedly  to  Kadza,  'Away 
now,  and  call  them  in,  the  crowd  about  the  palace,  that 
they  may  behold  the  triumph  of  Shagpat,  for  'tis  ripe,  O 
Kadza!' 

And  Kadza  replied,  'Thou  'rt  a  wise  woman,  and  I  '11 
have  thee  richly  rewarded.  Lo,  I  'm  as  a  camel  lightened 
of  fifty  loads,  and  the  glory  of  Shagpat  see  I  as  a  new  sun 
rising  in  the  desert.  Wullahy!  thou  'rt  wise,  and  I  '11  do 
thy  bidding.' 

Now,  she  went  flying  back  to  the  palace,  and  called 
shrill  calls  to  the  crowd,  and  collected  them  in  the  palace, 
and  headed  them  through  the  garden,  and  it  was  when 
Baba  Mustapha  had  summoned  courage  for  a  second  essay, 
and  was  in  the  act  of  standing  over  Shagpat  to  operate  on 


THE  DISH  OF  POMEGRANATE  GRAIN     271 

him,  that  the  crowd  burst  the  doors,  and  he  was  quickly 
seized  by  them,  and  tugged  at  and  hauled  at  and  pum- 
melled, and  torn  and  vituperated,  and  as  a  wrecked  vessel 
on  stormy  waters,  plunging  up  and  down  with  tattered 
sails,  when  the  crew  fling  overboard  freight  and  ballast 
and  provision.  Surely  his  time  would  have  been  short 
with  that  mob,  but  Noorna  made  Kadza  see  the  use  of 
examining  him  before  the  King,  and  there  were  in  that 
mob  sheikhs  and  fakirs,  holy  men  who  hstened  to  the 
words  of  Kadza,  and  exerted  themselves  to  rescue  Baba 
Mustapha,  and  quieted  the  rage  that  was  prevailing,  and 
bore  Baba  Mustapha  with  them  to  the  great  palace  of  the 
King,  which  was  in  the  centre  of  that  City.  Now,  when 
the  King  heard  of  the  attempt  on  Shagpat,  and  the  affair 
of  the  Pomegranate  Grain,  he  gave  orders  for  the  admis- 
sion of  the  people,  as  many  of  them  as  could  be  contained 
in  the  Hall  of  Justice:  and  he  set  a  guard  over  Baba  Mus- 
tapha, and  commanded  that  Shagpat  should  be  brought 
to  the  palace  even  as  he  then  was,  and  with  the  lather  on 
him.  So  the  regal  mandate  went  forth,  and  Shagpat  was 
brought  in  state  on  cushions,  and  the  potency  of  the  drug 
preserved  his  sedateness  through  all  this,  and  he  remained 
motionless  in  sleep,  folded  in  the  centre  of  calm  and  satis- 
faction, while  this  tumult  was  rageing  and  the  City  shook 
with  uproar.  But  the  people,  when  they  saw  him  whitened 
behind  a  lather,  wrath  at  Baba  Mustapha's  polluting  touch 
and  the  audacity  of  barbercraft  wrestled  in  them  with  the 
outpouring  of  reverence  for  Shagpat,  and  a  clamour  arose 
for  the  instant  sacrifice  of  Baba  Mustapha  at  the  foot  of 
their  idol  Shagpat.  And  the  whole  of  the  City  of  Shagpat, 
men,  women,  and  children,  and  the  sheikhs  and  the  der- 
vishes and  crafts  of  the  City  besieged  the  King's  palace  in 
that  middle  hour  of  the  noon,  clamouring  for  the  sacrifice 
of  Baba  Mustapha  at  the  feet  of  their  idol  Shagpat. 


272  THE  SILVVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


TPIE  BURNING  OF  THE  IDENTICAL 

Now,  the  Great  Hall  for  the  dispensing  of  justice  in  the 
palace  of  the  King  was  one  on  which  the  architect  and  the 
artificers  had  la\ished  all  their  arts  and  sul)tleties  of  de- 
sign and  taste  and  their  conceptions  of  uniformity  and 
grandeur,  so  that  none  entered  it  without  a  sense  of  abase- 
ment, and  the  soul  acknowledged  awfulness  and  power  in 
him  that  ruled  and  sat  eminent  on  the  throne  of  that  Hall. 
For,  lo!  the  throne  was  of  solid  weighty  gold,  overhung 
with  rich  silks  and  purples;  and  the  hall  was  lofty,  with 
massive  pillars,  fifty  on  either  side,  ranging  in  stateliness 
down  toward  the  blaze  of  the  throne;  and  the  pillars  were 
pillars  of  porphyry  and  of  jasper  and  precious  marble, 
carven  over  all  of  them  with  sentences  of  the  cunningest 
wisdom,  distichs  of  excellence,  odes  of  the  poet,  stanzas 
sharp  with  the  incisiveness  of  wit,  and  that  solve  knotty 
points  with  but  one  stroke;  and  these  pillars  were  eSLch 
the  gift  of  a  mighty  potentate  of  earth  or  of  a  Genie. 

In  the  centre  of  the  Hall  a  fountain  set  up  a  glittering 
jet,  and  spread  abroad  the  breath  of  freshness,  leaping  a 
height  of  sixty  feet,  and  shimmering  there  in  a  wide  bright 
canopy  with  dropping  silver  sides.  It  w^as  rumoured  of 
the  waters  of  this  fountain  that  they  were  fed  underground 
from  the  waters  of  the  Sacred  River,  brought  there  in  the 
reign  of  El  Rasoon,  a  former  sovereign  in  the  City  of  Shag- 
pat,  by  the  labours  of  Zak, — a  Genie  subject  to  the  magic 
of  Azrooka,  the  Queen  of  El  Rasoon;  but,  of  a  surety,  none 
of  earth  were  like  to  them  in  silveriness  and  sweet  cooling- 
ness,  and  they  were  as  wine  to  the  weary. 


THE  BURNING  OF  THE  IDENTICAL       273 

Now,  the  King  sat  on  his  throne  in  the  Hall,  and  around 
him  his  ministers,  and  Emirs,  and  chamberlains,  and 
officers  of  state,  and  black  slaves,  and  the  soldiers  of  his 
guard  armed  with  naked  scimitars.  And  the  King  was  as 
a  sun  in  splendour,  severely  grave,  and  a  frown  on  his  fore- 
head to  darken  kingdoms,  for  the  attempt  on  Shagpat  had 
stirred  his  kingly  wrath,  and  awakened  zeal  for  the  punish- 
ment of  all  conspirators  and  offenders.  So  when  Shagpat 
was  borne  in  to  the  King  upon  his  throne  of  cushions 
where  he  sat  upright,  smiling  and  inanimate,  the  King 
commanded  that  he  should  be  placed  at  his  side,  the  place 
of  honour;  and  Shagpat  was  as  a  moon  behind  the  white- 
ness of  the  lathers;  even  as  we  behold  moon  and  sun  to- 
gether in  the  heavens,  was  Shagpat  by  the  King. 

There  was  great  hubbub  in  the  Hall  at  the  entrance  of 
Shagpat,  and  a  hum  of  rage  and  muttered  vehemence 
passed  among  the  assembled  people  that  filled  the  hall 
like  a  cavern  of  the  sea,  the  sea  roaring  outside;  but  pres- 
ently the  King  spake,  and  all  hushed.  Then  said  he,  'O 
people!  thought  I  to  see  a  day  that  would  shame  Shagpat? 
he  that  has  brought  honour  and  renown  upon  me  and  all 
of  this  city,  so  that  we  shine  a  constellation  and  place  of 
pilgrimage  to  men  in  remote  islands  and  corners  of  the 
earth?  Yea!  and  to  Af rites  and  Genii?  Have  I  not  casti- 
gated barbers,  and  brought  barbercraft  to  degradation,  so 
that  no  youth  is  taught  to  exercise  it  ?  And  through  me 
the  tackle  of  the  barber,  is  't  not  a  rusty  and  abominated 
weapon,  and  as  a  sword  thrown  by  and  broken,  for  that  it 
dishonoured  us?  Surely,  too,  I  have  esteemed  Shagpat 
precious.' 

While  he  spake,  the  King  gazed  on  Shagpat,  and  was 
checked  by  passion  at  beholding  him  under  the  lather,  so 
that  the  people  praised  Shagpat  and  the  King.  Then  said 
he,  '0  people,  who  shall  forecast  disasters  and  triumphs? 
Lo,  I  had  this  day  at  dawn  intelligence  from  recreant  Oolb, 


274  THE  SILWING   OF  SIIAGPAT 

and  its  King  and  Court,  and  of  their  return  to  do  honour 
to  Shajjjpat!  And  I  had  this  day  at  dawn  tidings,  O  people, 
from  Shiraz,  and  of  the  adhesion  of  that  vain  city  and  its 
provinces  to  the  might  of  Shagpat!  So  commenced  the 
day,  yet  is  he,  the  object  of  the  world's  homage,  within  a 
few  hours  defiled  by  a  lather  and  the  hand  of  an  impious 
one!' 

At  these  words  of  the  King  there  rose  a  shout  of  vin- 
dictiveness  and  fury;  but  he  cried,  'Punishment  on  the 
otTendcrs  in  season,  0  people!  Probably  we  have  not 
abased  ourselves  for  the  honour  that  has  befallen  us  in 
Shagpat,  and  the  distinction  among  nations  and  tribes 
and  races,  and  creeds  and  sects,  that  we  enjoy  because  of 
Shag|)at.  Behold!  in  abasement  voluntarily  undertaken 
there  is  exceeding  brightness  and  exaltation;  for  how  is 
the  sun  a  sun  save  that  daily  he  dippeth  in  darkness,  to 
rise  again  freshly  majestic  ?  So  then,  be  mine  the  example, 
O  people  of  the  City  of  Shagpat!' 

Thereupon  lo,  the  King  descended  from  his  throne,  and 
stri])pcd  to  the  loins,  flinging  away  his  glittering  crown  and 
his  robes,  and  abased  himself  to  the  dust  with  loud  cries 
and  importunities  and  howls,  and  penitential  ejaculations 
and  so])bings;  and  it  was  in  that  Hall  as  when  the  sun 
goeth  down  in  storm.  Likewise  the  ministers  of  the  King, 
and  the  Viziers  and  Emirs  and  officers  of  state,  and  slaves, 
and  soldiers  of  the  guard,  bared  their  limbs,  and  fell  beside 
the  King  with  violent  outcries  and  wailings;  and  the  whole 
of  the  people  in  the  Hall  prostrated  their  bodies  with  wail- 
ings and  lamentations.  And  Baba  Mustapha  feigned  to 
bewail  himself,  and  Noorna  bin  Noorka  knelt  beside 
Kadza,  and  shrieked  loudest,  striking  her  breast  and  scat- 
tering her  hair;  and  that  Hall  was  as  a  pit  full  of  serpents 
writhing,  and  of  tigers  and  lions  and  wild  beasts  howling, 
each  pitching  his  howl  a  note  above  his  neighbours,  so  that 
the  tone  rose  and  sank,  and  there  was  no  one  soul  erect  in 


THE  BURNING  OF  THE  IDENTICAL       275 

that  Hall  save  Shagpat,  he  on  his  throne  of  cushions  smil- 
ing behind  the  lathers,  inanimate,  serene-  as  they  that  sin 
not.  After  an  hour's  lapse  there  came  a  pause,  and  the 
people  hearkened  for  the  voice  of  the  King;  but  in  the  in- 
tervals a  louder  moan  would  strike  their  ears,  and  they 
whispered  among  themselves,  "Tis  that  of  the  fakir,  El 
Zoop!'  and  the  moaning  and  howling  prevailed  again. 
And  again  they  heard  another  moan,  a  deep  one,  as  of  the 
earth  in  its  throes,  and  said  among  themselves,  '  'Tis  that 
of  Bootlbac,  the  drum-beater!'  and  this  led  off  to  the  howl 
of  Areep,  the  dervish;  and  this  was  followed  by  the  shriek 
of  Zeel,  the  garlic-seUer;  and  the  waul  of  Krooz  el  Kra- 
zawik,  the  carrier;  and  the  complainings  of  Dob,  the  con- 
fectioner; and  the  groan  of  Sallap,  the  broker;  and  the 
yell  of  Azawool,  the  builder.  There  would  have  been  no 
end  to  it  known;  but  the  King  rose  and  commenced  pluck- 
ing his  beard  and  his  hair, — they  likewise  in  silence.  When 
he  had  performed  this  ceremony  a  space,  the  King  called, 
and  a  basin  of  water  was  brought  to  him,  and  handed 
round  by  slaves,  and  all  dipped  in  it  their  hands,  and  re- 
newed their  countenances  and  re-arranged  their  limbs; 
and  the  Hall  brightened  with  the  eye  of  the  King,  and  he 
cried,  'O  people,  lo,  the  plot  is  revealed  to  me,  and  'tis  a 
deep  one ;  but,  by  this  beard,  we  '11  strike  at  the  root  of  it, 
and  a  blow  of  deadliness.  Surely  we  have  humihated  our- 
selves, and  vengeance  is  ours!    How  say  ye?' 

A  noise  hke  the  first  sullen  growl  of  a  vexed  wild  beast 
which  telleth  that  fury  is  fast  travelling  and  the  teeth  will 
flash,  followed  these  words;  and  the  King  called  to  his 
soldiers  of  the  guard,  'Ho!  forth  with  this  wretch  that 
dared  defile  Shagpat,  the  holy  one!  and  on  your  heads  be 
it  to  fetch  hither  Feshnavat,  the  son  of  Feil,  that  was  my 
Vizier,  he  that  was  envious  of  Shagpat,  and  whom  we 
spared  in  our  clemency.' 

Some  of  the  guard  went  from  the  Hall  to  fulfil  the 


27G  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

King's  injunction  on  Fcshnavat,  others  thrust  forth  Baba 
Mustapha  in  the  eyes  of  the  King.  Baba  Mustapha  was 
quaking  as  a  frog  quaketh  for  water,  and  he  trembled  and 
was  a  tonguelcss  creature  deserted  of  his  lower  limbs,  and 
witli  eycl)alLs  goggling,  through  exceeding  terror.  Now, 
when  the  King  saw  him,  he  contracted  his  brows  as  one 
that  peereth  on  a  small  and  minute  object,  crying,  'How! 
is  't  such  as  he,  this  monster  of  audaciousness  and  horrible 
presumption?    Truly  'tis  said: 

"For  ruin  and  the  deeds  preluding  change, 
Fear  not  great  Beasts,  nor  Eagles  when  they  range: 
But  dread  the  crawling  worm  or  pismire  mean, 
Satan  selects  them,  for  thcv  are  unseen." 

And  this  wretch  is  even  of  that  sort,  the  select  of  Satan! 
Off  with  the  top  of  the  reptile,  and  away  with  him ! ' 

Now,  at  the  issue  of  the  mandate  Baba  Mustapha 
choked,  and  horror  blocked  the  throat  of  confession  in 
him,  so  that  he  did  nought  save  stagger  imploringly;  but 
the  prompting  of  Noorna  sent  Kadza  to  the  foot  of  the 
throne,  and  Kadza  bent  her  body  and  exclaimed,  '  0  King 
of  the  age!  'tis  Kadza,  the  espoused  of  Shag|:)at  thy  ser- 
vant, that  spcaketh;  and  lo!  a  wise  woman  has  said  in 
my  ear,  "How  if  this  emissary  and  instrument  of  the  E\dl 
One,  this  barber,  this  filthy  fellow,  be  made  to  essay  on 
Shagpat  before  the  people  his  science  and  his  malice?  for 
'tis  certain  that  Shagpat  is  surrounded  where  he  sitteth  by 
Genii  invisible,  defended  by  them,  and  no  harm  can  hap 
to  him,  but  an  illumination  of  glory  and  triumph  manifest": 
and  for  this  barber,  his  punishment  can  afterwards  be 
looked  to,  O  great  King!' 

The  King  mused  awhile  and  sank  in  his  beard.  Then 
said  he  to  them  that  had  hold  of  Bal)a  Mustapha  watching 
for  the  signal,  'I  have  thought  over  it,  and  the  means  of 


THE  BURNING  OF  THE  IDENTICAL       277 

bringing  double  honour  on  the  head  of  Shagpat.  So  release 
this  fellow,  and  put  in  his  hands  the  tackle  taken  from  him.' 

This  was  done,  and  the  people  applauded  the  wisdom 
of  the  King,  and  crowded  forward  with  sharpness  of  ex- 
pectation; but  Baba  Mustapha,  when  he  felt  in  his  hands 
the  tackle,  the  familiar  instruments,  strength  and  wit  re- 
turned to  him  in  petty  measures,  and  he  thought,  'Per- 
chance there  '11  yet  be  time  for  my  nephew  to  strike,  if  he 
fail  me  not;  fool  that  I  was  to  look  for  glory,  and  not 
leave  the  work  to  him,  for  this  Shagpat  is  a  mighty  one, 
powerful  in  fleas,  and  it  needeth  something  other  than 
tackle  to  combat  such  as  he.  A  mighty  one,  said  I?  by 
Allah,  he  's  awful  in  his  mightiness!' 

So  Baba  Mustapha  kept  delaying,  and  feigned  to  sharpen 
the  blade,  and  the  King  called  to  him,  'Haste!  to  the  work! 
is  it  for  thee,  vile  wretch,  to  make  preparation  for  the  ac- 
cursed thing  in  our  presence?'  And  the  people  mur- 
mured and  waxed  impatient,  and  the  King  called  again, 
'Thou  'It  essay  this,  thou  wretch,  without  a  head,  let  but 
another  minute  pass.'  So  when  Baba  Mustapha  could 
delay  no  longer,  he  sighed  heavily  and  his  trembling  re- 
turned, and  the  power  of  Shagpat  smote  him  with  an  in- 
visible hand,  so  that  he  could  scarce  move;  but  dread 
pricked  him  against  dread,  and  he  advanced  upon  Shag- 
pat to  shear  him,  and  assumed  the  briskness  of  the  barber, 
and  was  in  the  act  of  bending  over  him  to  bring  the  blade 
into  play,  when,  behold,  one  of  the  chamberlains  of  the 
King  stood  up  in  the  presence  and  spake  a  word  that 
troubled  him,  and  the  King  rose  and  hurried  to  a  balcony 
looking  forth  on  the  Desert,  and  on  three  sides  of  the 
Desert  three  separate  clouds  of  dust  were  visible,  and  from 
these  clouds  presently  emerged  horsemen  with  spears  and 
pennons  and  plumes;  and  he  could  discern  the  flashing  of 
their  helms  and  the  glistening  of  steel-plates  and  armour  of 
gold  and  silver.    Seeing  this,  the  colour  went  from  the 


27S  THE  SliAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

cheeks  of  the  King  and  his  face  became  as  a  pinched  pome- 
granate, and  lie  cried  aloud,  '  What  visitation  's  this  ? 
Awahy!  \vc  are  beset,  and  here  's  abasement  brought  on 
us  \nthout  self-abasing!'  Meantime  these  horsemen  de- 
tached themselves  from  the  main  bodies  and  advanced  at 
a  gallop,  wheeling  and  circling  round  each  other,  toward 
the  walls  of  the  city,  and  when  they  were  close  they  low- 
ered their  arms  and  made  signs  of  amity,  and  proclaimed 
their  mission  and  the  name  of  him  they  served.  So  tidings 
were  brought  to  the  King  that  the  Lords  of  three  cities, 
with  vast  retinues,  were  come,  by  reason  of  a  warning,  to 
pay  homage  to  Shagpat,  the  son  of  Shimpoor;  and  these 
three  cities  were  the  cities  of  Oolb,  and  of  Oaf,  and  of 
Shiraz,  even  these! 

Now,  when  the  King  heard  of  it,  he  rejoiced  with  an 
exceeding  joy,  and  arrayed  himself  in  glory,  and  mounted 
a  charger,  the  pride  of  his  stables,  and  rode  out  to  meet 
the  Lords  of  the  three  cities  surrounded  by  the  horsemen 
of  his  guard.  And  it  w^as  within  half-a-mile  of  the  city 
walls  that  the  four  sovereigns  met,  and  dismounted  and 
saluted  and  embraced,  and  bestowed  on  one  another 
kingly  flatteries,  and  the  titles  of  Cousin  and  Brother.  So 
when  the  unctions  of  Royalty  were  over,  these  three  Kings 
rode  back  to  the  city  with  the  King  that  was  their  host, 
and  the  horsemen  of  the  three  kingdoms  pitched  their  tents 
and  camped  outside  the  walls,  making  cheer.  Then  the  King 
of  the  City  of  Shagpat  related  to  the  three  Kngs  the  story 
of  Shagpat  and  the  attempt  that  had  been  made  on  him ; 
and  in  the  great  Hall  of  Justice  he  ordained  the  erecting  of 
thrones  for  them  whereon  to  sit ;  and  they,  when  they  had 
paid  homage  to  Shagpat,  sat  by  him  there  on  either  side. 
Then  the  King  cried,  '  This  likewise  owe  we  to  Shagpat,  our 
glory!  See,  now,  how  the  might  that 's  in  him  shall  defeat  the 
machinations  of  evil,  0  my  cousins  of  Oolb,  and  of  Gaf,  and 
of  Shiraz.'    Thereupon  he  called,  'Bring  forth  the  barber!' 


THE  BURNING  OF  THE  IDENTICAL       279 

So  Baba  Mustapha  was  thrust  forth  by  the  soldiers  of 
the  guard;  and  the  King  of  Shiraz,  who  was  no  other  than 
the  great  King  Shahpushan,  exclaimed,  when  he  beheld 
Baba  Mustapha,  '  He  ?  why,  it  is  the  prince  of  barbers  and 
talkative  ones!  Hath  he  not  operated  on  my  head,  the 
head  of  me  in  old  time?  Truly  now,  if  it  be  in  man  to 
shave  Shagpat,  the  hand  of  this  barber  will  do  it ! ' 

And  the  King  of  Oolb  peered  on  Baba  Mustapha,  crying, 
'Even  this  fellow  I  bastinadoed!' 

And  the  King  of  Gaf,  that  was  Kresnuk,  famous  in  the 
annals  of  the  time,  said  aloud,  '  I'm  amazed  at  the  perti- 
nacity of  this  barber!  To  my  court  he  came,  searching  some 
silly  nephew,  and  would  have  shaved  us  all  in  spite  of  our 
noses;  yea,  talked  my  chief  Vizier  into  a  dead  sleep,  and  so 
thinned  him.  And  there  was  no  safety  from  him  save  in 
thongs  and  stripes  and  lashes!' 

Now,  upon  that  the  King  of  the  City  cried,  'Be  the  will 
of  Allah  achieved,  and  the  inviolacy  of  Shagpat  made 
manifest!  Thou  barber,  thou!  do  thy  worst  to  contami- 
nate him,  and  take  the  punishment  in  store  for  thee.  And 
if  it  is  written  thou  succeed,  then  keep  thy  filthy  life:  small 
chance  of  that!' 

Baba  Mustapha  remembered  the  poet's  words: 

The  abyss  is  worth  a  leap,  however  wide, 
When  life,  sweet  life,  is  on  the  other  side. 

And  he  controlled  himself  to  the  mastery  of  his  members, 
and  stepped  forward  to  essay  once  more  the  Shaving  of 
Shagpat.  Lo,  the  great  Hall  was  breathless,  nought 
heard  save  the  splashing  of  the  fountain  in  its  fall,  and  the 
rustle  of  the  robe  of  Baba  Mustapha  as  he  aired  his  right 
arm,  hovering  round  Shagpat  Hke  a  bird  about  the  nest; 
and  he  was  buzzing  as  a  bee  ere  it  entereth  the  flower,  and 
quivered  like  a  butterfly  when  'tis  fluttering  over  a  blossom ; 
and  Baba  Mustapha  sniffed  at  Shagpat  within  arm's  reach, 


280  THE  SHEWING  OF  SEL\GPAT 

fearing  him,  so  that  the  people  began  to  hum  with  a  great 
rapture,  and  the  King  Shahpushan  cried,  'Aha!  mark  him! 
this  monkey  knoweth  the  fire!' 

But  the  King  of  the  City  of  Shagpat  was  wroth,  and  com- 
manded his  guards  to  flourish  their  scimitars,  and  the 
keen  light  cut  the  chords  of  indecision  in  Baba  Mustapha, 
and  drove  him  upon  Shagpat  with  a  dash  of  desperation; 
and  lo!  he  stretched  his  hand  and  brought  down  the 
blade  upon  the  head  of  Shagj^at.  Then  was  the  might  of 
Shagpat  made  manifest,  for  suddenly  in  his  head  the 
Identical  rose  up  straight,  even  to  a  level  with  the  roof  of 
that  hall,  burning  as  it  had  been  an  angry  flame  of  many 
fiery  colours,  and  Baba  Mustapha  was  hurled  from  him  a 
great  space  like  a  ball  that  reboundeth,  and  he  was  twisting 
after  the  fashion  of  envenomed  serpents,  sprawling  and 
spuming,  and  uttering  cries  of  horror.  Surely,  to  see  that 
sight  the  four  Kings  and  the  people  bit  their  forefingers, 
and  winked  till  the  water  stood  in  their  eyes,  and  Kadza, 
turning  about,  exclaimed,  'This  owe  we  to  the  wise  woman! 
where  lurketh  she?'  So  she  called  about  the  hall,  'Wise 
woman !  wise  woman ! ' 

Now,  when  she  could  find  Noorna  bin  Noorka  nowhere 
in  that  crowd,  she  shrieked  exultingly,  "Twas  a  Genie! 
Wullaliy!  all  Afrites,  male  and  female,  are  in  the  service 
of  Shag])at,  my  light,  my  eyes,  my  sun!     I  his  moon!' 

Meantime  the  Kng  of  the  City  called  to  Baba  Mus- 
tapha, '  Hast  thou  had  enough  of  barbering,  O  \ile  one  ? 
Ho!  a  second  essay  on  the  head  of  Shagpat!  so  shall  the 
might  that 's  in  him  be  nidisputable,  bruited  abroad,  and  a 
great  load  u[)()n  the  four  winds.' 

Now,  Baba  Mustapha  was  persuaded  by  the  scimitars  of 
the  guard  to  a  second  essay  on  the  head  of  Shagpat,  and 
the  second  time  he  was  shot  away  from  Shagi)at  through 
the  crowd  and  great  assemblage  to  the  extreme  end  of  the 
hall,  where  he  lay  writhing  about,  abandoned  in  loathli- 


THE  BURNING  OF  THE  IDENTICAL       281 

ness;  and  he  in  his  despondency,  and  despite  of  protesta- 
tion and  the  slackness  of  his  limbs,  was  pricked  again  by 
the  scimitars  of  the  guard  to  a  third  essay  on  the  head  of 
Shagpat,  the  people  jeering  at  him,  for  they  were  joyous, 
light  of  heart;  and  lo!  the  third  time  he  was  shot  off  vio- 
lently, and  whirled  away  like  a  stone  from  a  sling,  even 
into  the  outer  air  and  beyond  the  city  walls,  into  the  dis- 
tance of  waste  places.  And  now  a  great  cry  rose  from  the 
people,  as  it  were  a  song  of  triumph,  for  the  Identical  stood 
up  wrathfully  from  the  head  of  Shagpat,  burning  in  bril- 
liance, blinding  to  look  on,  he  sitting  inanimate  beneath  it; 
and  it  waxed  in  size  and  pierced  through  the  roof  of  the 
hall,  and  was  a  sight  to  the  streets  of  the  city ;  and  the  horse- 
men camped  without  the  walls  beheld  it,  and  marvelled, 
and  it  was  as  a  pillar  of  fire  to  the  solitudes  of  the  Desert 
afar,  and  the  wild  Arab  and  wandering  Bedouins  and  cara- 
vans of  pilgrimage.  Distant  cities  asked  the  reason  of 
that  appearance,  and  the  cunning  fakir  interpreted  it,  and 
the  fervent  dervish  expounded  from  it,  and  messengers 
flew  from  gate  to  gate  and  from  land  to  land  in  exultation, 
and  barbers  hid  their  heads,  and  were  friendly  with  the 
fox  in  his  earth,  because  of  that  light.  So  the  Identical 
burned  on  the  head  of  Shagpat  as  in  wrath,  and  with  ex- 
ceeding splendour  of  attraction,  three  nights  and  three 
days;  and  the  fishes  of  the  sea  shoaled  to  the  sea's  surface 
and  stared  at  it,  and  the  fowls  of  the  air  congregated  about 
the  fury  of  the  light  with  screams  and  mad  flutters,  till  the 
streets  and  mosques  and  minarets  and  bright  domes  and 
roofs  and  cupolas  of  the  City  of  Shagpat  were  blackened 
with  scorched  feathers  of  the  vulture  and  the  eagle  and  the 
rook  and  the  raven  and  the  hawk,  and  other  birds,  sacred 
and  obscene;  so  was  the  triumph  of  Shagpat  made  mani- 
fest to  men  and  the  end  of  the  world  by  the  burning  of  the 
Identical  three  days  and  three  nights. 


282  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHiVGPAT 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE 

Now,  it  was  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  and  lo!  at  the 
first  leap  of  the  sun  of  that  day  the  flame  of  the  Identical 
abated  in  its  fierceness,  and  it  dwindled  and  darkened, 
and  tapered  and  flickered  feebly,  descending  from  its  al- 
titude in  the  heavens  and  through  the  ceiling  of  the  Hall, 
and  lay  down  to  sleep  among  the  intricate  lengths  and 
frizzled  convolutions  and  undulating  weights  flowing  from 
Sliagpat,  an  undistinguished  hair,  even  as  the  common 
hairs  of  his  head.  So,  upon  that,  the  four  fasting  Kings 
breathed,  and  from  the  people  of  the  City  there  went  up  a 
mighty  shout  of  gladness  and  congratulation  at  the  glory 
they  had  witnessed;  and  they  took  the  air  deeply  into  their 
chests,  and  were  as  divers  that  have  been  long  fathoms- 
dcep  under  water,  and  ascend  and  puff  hard  and  press  the 
water  from  their  eyes,  that  yet  refuse  to  acknowledge 
with  a  recognition  the  things  that  be  and  the  sights  above, 
so  mazed  are  they  with  those  unmentionable  marvels 
and  treasures  and  profusion  of  jewels,  and  splendid  lazy 
growths  and  lavish  filmy  illuminations,  and  nmltitudinous 
pearls  and  sheening  shells,  that  lie  heaped  in  the  beds  of 
the  ocean.    As  the  poet  has  said : 

After  too  strong  a  beam, 

Too  bright  a  glory, 
We  ask.  Is  this  ii  dream 

Or  magic  story? 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE  283 

And  he  says: 

When  I  've  had  rapturous  visions  such  as  make 
The  sun  turn  pale,  and  suddenly  awake, 
Long  must  I  pull  at  memory  in  this  beard, 
Ere  I  remember  men  and  things  revered. 

So  was  it  with  the  people  of  the  City,  and  they  stood  in 
the  Hall  and  winked  staringly  at  one  another,  shouting 
and  dancing  at  intervals,  capering  with  mad  gravity,  ex- 
claiming on  the  greatness  of  that  they  had  witnessed. 
And  Zeel  the  garlic-seller  fell  upon  Dob  the  confectioner, 
and  cried,  'Was  this  so,  O  Dob?  Wullahy!  this  glory, 
was  it  verily  ? '  And  Dob  peered  dimly  upon  Zeel,  whisper- 
ing solemnly,  '  Say,  now,  art  thou  of  a  surety  that  Zeel  the 
garlic-seller  known  to  me,  my  boon-fellow?'  And  the 
twain  turned  to  Sallap  the  broker,  and  exchanged  inter- 
jections with  him,  and  with  Azawool  the  builder,  and  with 
Krooz  el  Krazawik  the  carrier;  and  they  accosted  Bootlbac 
the  drum-beater,  where  he  stood  apart,  drumming  the  air 
as  to  a  march  of  triumph,  and  no  word  would  he  utter, 
neither  to  Zeel,  nor  to  Sallap,  nor  to  Krooz  el  Krazawik, 
nor  to  Azawool  liis  neighbour,  nor  to  any  present,  but  con- 
tinued drumming  on  the  air  rapidly  as  in  answer,  increas- 
ing in  the  swiftness  of  his  drumming  till  it  was  a  rage  to 
mark  him,  and  the  excitement  about  Bootlbac  became  as 
a  mad  eddy  in  the  midst  of  a  mighty  stream,  he  drumming 
the  air  with  exceeding  swiftness  to  various  measures,  beat- 
ing before  him  as  on  the  tightened  skin,  lost  to  all  presences 
save  the  Identical  and  Shagpat.  So  they  edged  away 
from  Bootlbac  in  awe,  saying,  'He's  inspired,  Bootlbac! 
'tis  the  triumph  of  Shagpat  he  drummeth.'  They  feigned 
to  Hsten  to  him  till  their  ears  deceived  them,  and  they  re- 
joiced in  the  velocity  of  the  soundless  tune  of  Bootlbac 
the  drum-beater,  and  were  stirred  by  it,  excited  to  a  for- 
getfulness  of  their  fasting.    Such  was  the  force  of  the  in- 


284  THE  SILWING   OF  SHAGPAT 

spiration   of   Bootlbac   the   drum-beater,   caused   by   the 
burning  of  the  Identical. 

Now,  the  four  Kings,  when  they  had  mastered  their 
wits,  gazed  in  silence  on  Shagpat,  and  sighed  and  shook 
their  heads,  and  were  as  they  that  have  swallowed  a  potent 
draught  and  ponder  sagely  over  the  gulj).  Surely,  the 
\isages  of  the  Kings  of  Shiraz  and  of  Gaf  and  of  Oolb  be- 
tokened dread  of  Shagpat  and  amazement  at  him;  but  the 
Kng  of  the  City  exulted,  and  the  shining  of  content  was 
on  his  countenance,  and  he  cried,  'Wondrous!'  and  again, 
'Wullahy,  wondrous!'  and  'Oh,  glory!'  And  he  laughed 
and  clucked  and  chuckled,  and  the  triumph  of  Shagpat  wa.s 
to  him  as  a  new  jewel  in  his  crown  outshining  all  others, 
and  he  was  for  awhile  as  the  cock  smitten  with  the  pride  of 
his  comb,  the  peacock  magnified  by  admiration  of  his  tail. 
Then  he  cried,  '  For  this,  praise  we  Allah  and  the  Prophet. 
Wullahy,  'twas  wondrous!'  and  he  went  off  again  into  a 
roll  of  duckings  and  chucklings  and  exclamations  of  de- 
light, crying,  'Need  they  further  proof  of  the  power  in 
Shagpat  now  ?  Has  he  not  manifested  it  ?  So  true  is  that 
saying — 

"The  friend  that  flattereth  weakeneth  at  length; 
It  is  the  foe  that  calleth  forth  our  strength." 

Wondrous!   and  never  knew  earth  a  thing  to  equal  it  in 
the  range  of  marvels!' 

Now,  ere  the  last  word  was  spoken  by  the  King,  there 
passed  through  the  sky  a  mighty  flash.  Those  in  the 
Hall  saw  it,  and  the  horsemen  of  the  three  cities  encamped 
without  the  walls  were  nigh  blinded  by  the  keenness  of  its 
i)laze.  So  they  looked  into  the  height,  and  saw  straight 
over  the  City  a  speck  of  cloud,  but  no  thunder  came  from 
it;  and  the  King  cried,  'These  be  Genii!  the  issue  of  this 
miracle  is  yet  to  come!  look  for  it,  and  exult.'  Then  he 
turned  to  the  other  Kings,  but  they  were  leaning  to  right 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE  285 

and  left  in  their  seats,  as  do  the  intoxicated,  without 
strength  to  answer  his  questioning.  So  he  exclaimed,  'A 
curse  on  my  head!  have  I  forgotten  the  laws  of  hospitahty? 
my  cousins  are  famished!'  He  was  giving  orders  for  the 
spreading  of  a  sumptuous  banquet  when  there  passed 
through  the  sky  another  mighty  flash.  They  awaited  the 
thunder  this  time  confidently,  yet  none  came.  Suddenly 
the  King  exclaimed,  "Tis  the  wrath  of  Shagpat  that  his 
assailants  remain  uncastigated ! '  Then  cried  he  to  the 
eunuchs  of  the  guard,  'Hither  with  Feshnavat,  the  son  of 
Fell!'  And  the  King  said  to  Feshnavat,  'Thou  plotter! 
envious  of  Shagpat!'  Here  the  King,  Kresnuk,  fell  for- 
ward at  the  feet  of  Shagpat  from  sheer  inanition,  and  the 
King  of  the  City  ordered  instantly  ^dnes  and  viands  to  be 
brought  into  the  Hall,  and  commenced  saying  to  Fesh- 
navat, in  the  words  of  the  wise  entablature: — 

*  "Of  reckless  mercy  thus  the  Sage  declared: 
More  culpable  the  sparer  than  the  spared; 
For  he  that  breaks  one  law,  breaks  one  alone: 
But  who  thwarts  Justice  flouts  Law's  sovereign  throne." 

And  have  I  not  been  over-merciful  in  thy  case  ? ' 

As  the  King  was  haranguing  Feshnavat,  his  nostril  took 
in  the  steam  of  the  viands  and  the  fresh  odours  of  the 
wines,  and  he  could  delay  no  longer  to  satisfy  his  craving, 
but  caught  up  the  goblet,  and  drank  from  it  till  his  visage 
streamed  the  tears  of  contentment.  Lo,  while  he  put 
forth  his  hand  tremblingly,  as  to  continue  the  words  of  his 
condemnation  of  the  Vizier,  the  heavens  were  severed  by 
a  third  flash,  one  exceeding  in  fierceness  the  other  flashes; 
and  now  the  Great  Hall  rocked,  and  the  piflars  and  thrones 
trembled,  and  the  eyes  oif  Shagpat  opened.  He  made  no 
motion,  but  sat  like  a  wonder  of  stone,  looking  before  him. 
Surely,  Kadza  shrieked,  and  rushed  forward  to  him  from 


286  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

the  crowd,  yet  he  said  nothing,  and  was  as  one  frozen.  So 
the  King  cried,  'He  waketh!  the  flashes  preceded  his 
wakening!  Now  shall  he  see  the  vengeance  of  kings  on 
his  enemies.'  Thereupon  he  made  a  signal,  and  the  scim- 
itars of  the  guard  were  in  air  over  the  head  of  Feshnavat, 
when  darkness  as  of  the  dropping  of  night  fell  upon  all,  and 
the  darkness  spake,  saying,  '  I  am  Abarak  of  the  Bar,  pre- 
ceder  of  the  Event ! ' 

Then  it  was  light,  but  the  ears  of  every  soul  present 
were  pierced  with  the  wailing  of  wild  animals,  and  on  all 
sides  from  the  Desert  hundreds  of  them  were  seen  making 
toward  the  City,  some  swiftly,  others  at  a  heavy  pace; 
and  when  they  were  come  near  they  crouched  and  fawned, 
and  dropped  their  dry  tongues  as  in  awe.  There  was  the 
serpent,  meek  as  before  the  days  of  sin,  and  the  leopard 
slinking  to  get  among  the  legs  of  men,  and  the  lion  came 
trundling  along  in  utter  flabbiness,  raising  not  his  head. 
Soon  the  streets  were  thronged  with  elephants  and  lions 
and  sullen  tigers,  and  wild  cats  and  wolves,  not  a  tail  erect 
among  them:  great  was  the  marvel!  So  the  King  cried, 
'We  're  in  the  thick  of  wonders;  banquet  we  lightly  while 
they  increase  upon  us!  What 's  yonder  little  man?  '  This 
was  Abarak  that  stood  before  the  King,  and  exclaimed, 
'I  am  the  darkness  that  aimounceth  the  mastery  of  the 
Event,  as  a  shadow  before  the  sun's  approach,  and  it  is  the 
Shaving  of  Shagpat!'  The  world  darkened  before  the 
eyes  of  the  King  when  he  heard  this,  and  in  a  moment 
Abarak  was  clutched  by  the  soldiers  of  the  guard,  and 
diiigged  beside  Feshnavat  to  await  the  final  blow;  and  this 
would  have  j)arted  two  heads  from  two  bodies  at  one 
stroke,  but  now  Noorna  bin  Noorka  entered  the  hall, 
veiled  and  in  the  bright  garb  of  a  bride,  with  veiled  atten- 
dants about  her,  and  the  people  opened  to  give  her  passage 
to  the  throne  of  the  King.  So  she  said,  '  Delay  the  stroke 
yet  awhile,  0  Head  of  the  Magnanimous!    I  am  she  claimed 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE  287 

by  Shagpat;  surely,  I  am  bride  of  him  that  is  Master  of  the 
Event,  and  the  hour  of  bridals  is  the  hour  of  clemency.' 

The  King  looked  at  Shagpat,  perplexed;  but  the  eye 
of  Shagpat  gazed  as  into  the  distance  of  another  world. 
Then  said  he,  'We  shall  hear  nought  from  the  mouth  of 
Shagpat  till  he  is  avenged,  and  till  then  he  is  silent  with 
exceeding  wrath.'  Hearing  this,  Noorna  ran  quickly  to 
a  window  of  the  Hall,  and  let  loose  a  white  dove  from  her 
bosom. 

Then  came  there  that  flash  which  is  recorded  in  old 
traditions  as  the  fourth  of  the  flashes  of  thunderless  light- 
nings, after  the  passing  of  which,  hundreds  of  fakirs  that 
had  been  awaiting  it  saw  nothing  further  on  this  earth. 
Down  through  the  Hall  it  swept;  and  lo!  when  the  Kings 
and  the  people  recovered  their  sight  to  regard  Shagpat, 
he  was,  one  side  of  him,  clean  shorn,  the  shaven  side  shin- 
ing as  the  very  moon! 

Surely  from  that  moment  there  was  no  longer  aught 
mortal  in  the  combat  that  ensued.  For  now,  while  amaze- 
ment and  horror  palsied  all  present,  the  Genie  Karaz, 
uttering  a  howl  of  fury,  shot  down  the  length  of  the  Hall 
like  a  black  storm-bolt,  and  caught  up  Shagpat,  and 
whirled  off  with  him  into  the  air;  and  they  beheld  him 
dive  and  dodge  the  lightnings  that  beset  him  from  upper 
heaven,  catching  Shagpat  from  them,  now  by  the  heels, 
now  by  the  hair  remaining  one  side  his  head.  This  lasted 
a  full  hour,  when  the  Genie  paused  a  second,  and  made  a 
sheer  descent  into  the  earth.  Then  saw  they  the  wings 
of  Koorookh,  each  a  league  in  length,  overshadow  the  en- 
tire land,  and  on  the  neck  of  the  bird  sat  Shibli  Bagarag 
cleaving  through  the  earth  with  his  blade,  and  he  sat  on 
Koorookh  as  the  moon  sits  on  the  midnight.  There  was 
no  light  save  the  light  shed  abroad  by  the  flashes  of  the 
blade,  and  in  these  they  beheld  the  air  suffocated  with  Af- 
rites  and  Genii  in  a  red  and  brown  and  white  heat,  follow- 


288  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

ei"s  of  Ivaraz.  Strokes  of  the  blade  clove  them,  and  their 
blood  was  fire  that  flowed  over  the  feathers  of  Koorookh, 
lighting  him  in  a  conflagration;  but  the  bird  flew  constantly 
to  a  fountain  of  earth  below  and  extinguished  it.  Then 
the  battle  reconunenced,  and  the  solid  earth  yawned  at 
the  gashes  made  by  the  mighty  blade,  and  its  dei)ths  re- 
vealed how  Karaz  was  flying  with  Shagpat  from  circle  to 
circle  of  the  under-regions,  hurraing  with  him  downward 
to  the  lowest  circle,  that  was  flaming  to  points,  Uke  the 
hair  of  vast  heads.  Presently  they  saw  a  wondrous  (juiver- 
ing  flash  divide  the  Genie,  and  his  heels  and  head  fell  to- 
gether in  the  abysses,  leaving  Shagpat  prone  on  great 
brasiers  of  penal  flame.  Then  the  blade  made  another 
hissing  sweep  over  Shagpat,  leaving  little  of  the  wondrous 
growths  on  him  save  a  topknot. 

But  now  was  the  hour  struck  when  Rabesqurat  could 
be  held  no  longer  ser\dng  the  ferry  in  Aklis;  and  the  ter- 
rible Queen  streamed  in  the  sky,  like  a  red  disastrous 
comet,  and  dived,  eagle-like,  into  the  depths,  re-ascending 
with  Shagpat  in  her  arms,  cheiishing  him;  and  lo,  there 
were  suddenly  a  thousand  ShagjDats  multiplied  about,  and 
the  hand  of  Shibli  Bagarag  became  exhausted  with  hewing 
at  them.  The  scornful  laugh  of  the  Queen  was  heard 
throughout  earth  as  she  triumphed  over  Shibli  Bagarag 
with  hundreds  of  Shagpats,  Illusions;  and  he  knew  not 
where  to  strike  at  the  Shagpat,  and  was  losing  all  sleight 
of  hand,  dexterity,  and  cumiing.  Noorna  shrieked,  think- 
ing him  lost;  but  Abarak  seized  his  bar,  and  leaning  it  in 
the  direction  of  Aklis,  blew  a  pellet  from  it  that  struck  on 
the  eye  of  Aklis,  and  this  sent  out  a  stretching  finger  of 
beams,  and  singled  forth  very  Shagpat  from  the  myriads 
of  semblances,  so  that  he  glowed  and  was  ruddy,  the  rest 
cowering  pale,  and  dissolving  like  salt-grains  in  water. 

Then  saw  earth  and  its  inhabitants  how  the  Genie 
Karaz  re-ascended  in  the  shape  of  a  vulture  with  a  fire- 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE  289 

beak,  pecking  at  the  eyes  of  him  that  wielded  the  Sword, 
so  that  he  was  bewildered  and  shook  this  way  and  that 
over  the  neck  of  Koorookh,  striking  wildly,  languidly 
cleaving  towers  and  palaces,  and  monuments  of  earth 
underneath  him.  Now,  ShibH  Bagarag  discerned  his 
danger,  and  considered,  'The  power  of  the  Sword  is  to 
sever  brains  and  thoughts.  Great  is  Allah!  I  '11  seek  my 
advantage  in  that.' 

So  he  whirled  Koorookh  thrice  in  the  crimson  smoke  of 
the  atmosphere,  and  put  the  blade  between  the  first  and 
second  thought  in  the  head  of  Rabesqurat,  whereby  the 
sense  of  the  combat  became  immediately  confused  in  her 
mind,  and  she  used  her  powers  as  the  fool  does,  equally 
against  all,  for  the  sake  of  mischief  solely — no  longer  mis- 
tress of  her  own  Illusions;  and  she  began  doubling  and 
trebling  ShibH  Bagarag  on  the  neck  of  monstrous  birds, 
speeding  in  draggled  flightiness  from  one  point  of  the  sky 
to  another.  Even  in  the  terror  of  the  combat,  ShibH  Bag- 
arag was  fain  to  burst  into  a  fit  of  violent  laughter  at  the 
sight  of  the  Queen  wagging  her  neck  loosely,  perking  it  Hke 
a  mad  raven;  and  he  took  heart,  and  swept  the  blade 
rapidly  over  Shagpat  as  she  dandled  him,  leaving  Shagpat 
but  one  hair  remaining  on  him;  yet  was  that  the  Identical; 
and  it  arose,  and  was  a  serpent  in  his  head,  and  from  its 
jaws  issued  a  river  of  fiery  serpents:  these  and  a  host  of 
Af rites  besieged  ShibH  Bagarag;  and  now,  to  defend  him- 
self, he  unloosed  the  twin  Genii,  Karavejis  and  Veejra- 
voosh,  from  the  wrist  of  that  hand  which  wielded  the  Sword 
of  Aklis,  and  these  alternately  interwound  before  and  about 
him,  and  were  even  as  a  glittering  armour  of  emerald 
plates,  warding  from  him  the  assaults  of  the  host;  and  lo! 
he  flew,  and  the  battle  foUowed  him  over  blazing  cities 
and  lands  on  fire  with  the  slanting  hail  of  sparkles. 

By  this  time  every  soul  in  the  City  of  Shagpat,  kings 
and  people,  all  save  Abarak  and  Nooma  bin  Noorka,  were 


290  THE  SHAVING   OF  SHAGPAT 

overcome  and  prostrate  with  their  faces  to  the  ground; 
l)ut  Noorna  watched  the  conflict  eagerly,  and  saw  the  head 
of  Shagpat  sprouting  incessant  fresh  crops  of  hair,  despite 
the  pertinacious  shearing  of  her  betrothed.  Tlien  she 
smote  her  hands,  and  cried,  'Yea!  though  I  lose  my 
beauty  and  the  love  of  my  betrothed,  I  must  join  in  this, 
or  he  '11  be  lost.'  So,  sajing  to  Abarak,  'Watch  over  me,' 
she  went  into  the  air,  and,  as  she  passed  Rabesqurat,  was 
multiplied  into  twenty  damsels  of  loveliness.  Then  Aba- 
rak beheld  a  scorpion  following  the  twenty  in  mid-air, 
and  darting  stings  among  them.  Noorna  tossed  a  ring, 
and  it  fell  in  a  circle  of  flame  round  the  scoipion.  So, 
while  the  scorj)ion  was  shooting  in  squares  to  escape  from 
the  circle,  the  fire-beaked  vulture  flew  to  it,  and  fluttered  a 
dense  rain  which  swallowed  the  flame,  and  the  scorpion 
and  vulture  assailed  Noorna,  that  was  changed  to  a  golden 
hawk  in  the  midst  of  nineteen  other  golden  hawks.  Now, 
as  Rabesqurat  came  scudding  l)y,  and  saw  the  encounter, 
she  made  the  twenty  hawks  a  hundred.  The  Genie  Karaz 
howled  at  her,  and  pinioned  her  to  a  pillar  below  in  the 
Desert,  with  Shagpat  in  her  arms.  But,  as  he  soared 
aloft  to  renew  the  fight  with  Noorna,  Shibli  Bagarag 
loosed  to  her  aid  the  Slaves  of  the  Sword,  and  Abarak 
marked  him  slope  to  a  distant  corner  of  earth,  and  re- 
ascend  in  a  cloud,  which  drew  swiftly  over  the  land  tow- 
ard the  Great  Hall.  Lo,  Shibli  Bagarag  stepped  from  it 
through  a  casement  of  the  Hall,  and  wath  him  Shagpat,  a 
slack  weight,  mazed  out  of  all  power  of  motion.  Koorookh 
swooped  low,  on  his  back  Baba  Mustapha,  and  Shibli 
Bagarag  flung  Abarak  beside  him  on  the  bird.  Then 
Koorookh  whirred  off"  with  them;  and  while  the  heavens 
raged,  Siiibli  Bagarag  prepared  a  rapid  lather,  and  dashed 
it  over  Shagpat,  and  commenced  shearing  him  with  light- 
ning sweeps  of  the  blade.  'Twas  as  a  racing  wheel  of  fire 
to  sec  him!    Suddenly  he  desisted,  and  wiped  the  sweat 


THE  FLASHES  OF  THE  BLADE  291 

from  his  face.  Then  calling  on  the  name  of  Allah,  he 
gave  a  last  keen  cunning  sweep  with  the  blade,  and  follow- 
ing that,  the  earth  awfully  quaked  and  groaned,  as  if 
speaking  in  the  abysmal  tongue  the  Mastery  of  the  Event 
to  all  men.  Aklis  was  revealed  in  burning  beams  as  of  a 
sun,  and  the  trouble  of  the  air  ceased,  vapours  slowly  curl- 
ing to  the  four  quarters.  Shibli  Bagarag  had  smitten  clean 
through  the  Identical!  Terribly  had  Noorna  and  those 
that  aided  her  been  oppressed  by  the  multitude  of  their 
enemies;  but,  in  a  moment  these  melted  aw^ay,  and  Karaz^ 
together  mth  the  scorpion  that  was  Goorelka,  vanished. 
Day  was  on  the  baldness  of  Shagpat. 


292  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 


CONCLUSION 

So  was  shaved  Shagpat,  the  son  of  Shimpoor,  the  son  of 
Shoolpi,  the  son  of  Shiillum,  by  Shibli  Bagarag,  of  Shiraz, 
according  to  preordainment. 

The  chronicles  relate,  that  no  sooner  had  he  mastered 
the  Event,  than  men  on  the  instant  perceived  what  illu- 
sion had  beguiled  them,  and,  in  the  words  of  the  poet, — 

The  blush  with  which  their  folly  they  confess 
Is  the  first  prize  of  his  supreme  success. 

Even  Bootlbac,  the  drum-beater,  drummed  in  homage  to 
him,  and  the  four  Kings  were  they  that  were  loudest  in 
their  revilings  of  the  spouse  of  Kadza,  and  most  obsequious 
in  praises  of  the  Master.  The  King  of  the  City  was  fain 
to  propitiate  his  people  by  a  voluntary  resignation  of  his 
throne  to  Shibli  Bagarag,  and  that  King  took  well  to  heart 
the  wisdom  of  the  sage,  when  he  says: 

Power,  on  Illusion  based,  o'ertoppeth  all; 
The  more  disastrous  is  its  certain  fall! 

Surely  Shibli  Bagarag  returned  the  Sword  to  the  Sons  of 
Aklis,  fliushing  it  in  midnight  air,  and  they,  with  the  others, 
did  reverence  to  his  achievement.  They  were  now  re- 
leased from  the  toil  of  sharp(Miirig  the  Sword  a  half-cycle 
of  years,  to  wander  in  delight  on  the  fair  surface  of  the 
flowery  earth,  breathing  its  roses,  wooing  its  brides;  for 
the  mastery  of  an  Event  lasteth  among  men  the  space  of 


CONCLUSION  293 

one  cycle  of  years,  and  after  that  a  fresh  Illusion  springeth 
to  befool  mankind,  and  the  Seven  must  expend  the  con- 
cluding half-cycle  in  preparing  the  edge  of  the  Sword  for  a 
new  mastery.    As  the  poet  declareth  in  his  scorn: 

Some  doubt  Eternity:  from  life  begun, 
Has  folly  ceased  within  them,  sire  to  son? 
So,  ever  fresh  Illusions  will  arise 
And  lord  creation,  until  men  are  wise. 

And  he  adds: 

That  is  a  distant  period;    so  prepare 
To  fight  the  false,  O  youths,  and  never  spare! 
For  who  would  live  in  chronicles  renowned 
Must  combat  folly,  or  as  fool  be  crowned. 

Now,  for  the  Kings  of  Shiraz  and  of  Gaf,  Shibli  Bagarag 
entertained  them  in  honour;  but  the  King  of  Oolb  he  dis- 
graced and  stripped  of  his  robes,  to  invest  Baba  Mustaipha 
in  those  royal  emblems — a  punishment  to  the  treachery  of 
the  King  of  Oolb,  as  is  said  by  Aboo  Eznol: 

When  nations  with  opposing  forces,  rash. 

Shatter  each  other,  thou  that  wouldst  have  stood 
Apart  to  profit  by  the  monstrous  feud. 

Thou  art  the  surest  victim  of  the  crash. 

Take  colours  of  whichever  side  thou  wilt. 
And  stedfastly  thyself  in  battle  range; 
Yet,  having  taken,  shouldst  thou  dare  to  change, 

Suspicion  hunts  thee  as  a  thing  of  guilt. 

Baba  Mustapha  was  pronounced  Sovereign  of  Oolb, 
amid  the  acclamations  of  the  guard  encamped  under  the 
command  of  Ravaloke,  without  the  walls. 

No  less  did  Shibli  Bagarag  honour  the  benefactor  of 
Noorna,  making  him  chief  of  his  armies;  and  he,  with  his 


294  THE  SILWING  OF  SHAGPAT 

own  hand,  bestowed  on  the  good  old  warrior  the  dress  of 
honour  presented  to  him  by  the  Seven  Sons,  charactered 
with  all  the  mysteries  of  Aklis,  a  marvel  lost  to  men  in  the 
failure  to  master  the  Illusion  now  dominating  earth. 

So,  then,  of  all  that  had  worshipped  Shagpat,  only 
Kadza  clung  to  him,  and  she  departed  with  him  into  the 
realms  of  Rabesqurat,  who  reigned  there,  divided  against 
h(M\self  by  the  stroke  of  the  Sword.  The  Queen  is  no 
longer  mighty,  for  the  widening  of  her  power  has  weakened 
it,  she  being  now  the  mistress  of  the  single-thoughted,  and 
them  that  follow  one  idea  to  the  exclusion  of  a  second. 
The  failure  in  the  unveiluig  of  her  last-cherished  Illusion 
was  in  the  succumbing  frailty  of  him  that  undertook  the 
task,  the  world  and  its  wise  men  having  come  to  the  belief 
that  in  thwackings  there  was  ignominy  to  the  soul  of  man, 
and  a  tarnish  on  the  lustre  of  heroes.  On  that  score,  hear 
the  words  of  the  poet,  a  vain  protest: 

Ye  that  nourish  hopes  of  fame! 

Ye  who  would  be  known  in  song! 
Ponder  old  history,  and  duly  frame 
Your  souls  to  meek  acceptance  of  the  thong. 

Lo!   of  hundreds  who  aspire, 

Eighties  perish — nineties  tire! 
They  who  bear  up,  in  spite  of  wrecks  and  wracks, 
Were  season 'd  by  celestial  hail  of  thwacks. 

Fortune  in  this  mortal  race 
Builds  on  thwackings  for  its  base; 
Thus  the  All-Wise  doth  make  a  flail  a  staff, 
And  separates  his  heavenly  corn  from  chaff. 

Think  ve,  h;\d  ho  never  known 

Noorna  a  behibouring  crone, 
Shibli  Bagarag  would  have  shaved  Shagpdt? 
The  unthwack'd  lives  in  chronicle  a  rat! 


CONCLUSION  295 

'Tis  the  thwacking  in  this  den 

Maketh  lions  of  true  men! 
So  are  we  nerved  to  break  the  clinging  mesh 
Which  tames  the  noblest  efforts  of  poor  flesh. 

Feshnavat  became  the  Master's  Vizier,  and  Abarak  re- 
mained at  the  right  hand  of  Shibli  Bagarag,  his  slave  in 
great  adventure.  No  other  condition  than  bondage  gave 
peace  to  Abarak.  He  was  of  the  class  enumerated  by  the 
sage: 

Who,  with  the  strength  of  giants,  are  but  tools, 
The  weighty  hands  which  serve  selected  fools. 

Now,  this  was  how  it  was  in  the  case  of  Baba  Mustapha, 
and  the  four  Kings,  and  Feshnavat,  and  Abarak,  and 
Ravaloke,  and  Kadza,  together  with  Shagpat;  but,  in  the 
case  of  Noorna  bin  Noorka,  surely  she  was  withering  from 
a  sting  of  the  scorpion  shot  against  her  bosom,  but  the 
Seven  Sons  of  Aklis  gave  her  a  pass  into  Akiis  on  the 
wings  of  Koorookh,  and  Gulrevaz,  the  daughter  of  Aklis, 
tended  her,  she  that  was  alone  capable  of  restoring  her, 
and  counteracting  the  malice  of  the  scorpion  by  the  hand 
of  purity.  So  Noorna  prospered;  but  Shibli  Bagarag 
drooped  in  uncertainty  of  her  state,  and  was  as  a  reaper  in 
a  field  of  harvest,  around  whom  lie  the  yellow  sheaves,  and 
the  brown  beam  of  autumn  on  his  head,  the  blaze  of  plenty; 
yet  is  he  joyless  and  stands  musing,  for  one  is  away  who 
should  be  there,  and  without  whom  the  goblet  of  Success 
giveth  an  unsweetened  draught,  and  there  is  nothing 
pleasant  in  life,  and  the  flower  on  the  summit  of  achieve- 
ment is  blighted.  At  last,  as  he  was  listlessly  dispensing 
justice  in  the  Great  Hall,  seven  days  after  the  mastery  of 
the  Event,  lo,  Noorna  in  air,  borne  by  Gulrevaz!  she  fair 
and  fresh  in  the  revival  of  health  and  beauty,  and  the  light 
of  constant  love.    Of  her  entry  into  the  Great  Hall,  to  the 


296  THE  SHAVING  OF  SH.\GPAT 

embrace  of  her  betrothed,  the  poet  exclaims,  picturing  her 
in  a  rapture: 

> 
Her  march  is  music,  and  my  soul  obeys 

Each  motion,  as  a  lute  to  cunning  fingers: 
I  see  the  earth  throb  for  her  as  she  sways 

Wave-like  in  air,  and  like  a  great  flower  lingers 
Heavily  over  all,  as  loath  to  leave 
What  loves  her  so,  and  for  her  loss  would  grieve. 

But  oh,  what  other  hand  than  heaven's  can  paint 
Her   eyes,   and   that   black   bow   from   which    their 
lightning 

Pierces  afar!   long  lustrous  eyes,  that  faint 

In  languor,  or  with  stormy  passion  brightening: 

Within  them  world  in  world  lights  up  from  sleep, 

And  gives  a  glimpse  of  the  eternal  deep. 

Sigh  round  her,  odorous  winds;  and,  envious  rose, 
So  vainly  envious,  with  such  blushes  gifted, 

Bow  to  her;  die,  strangled  with  jealous  throes, 
O  Bulbul!   when  she  sings  with  brow  uplifted; 

Gather  her,  happy  youth,  and  for  thy  gain 

Thank  Him  who  could  such  loveliness  ordain. 

Surely  the  Master  of  the  Event  advanced  to  her  in  the 
glory  of  a  Sultan,  and  seated  her  beside  him  in  majesty, 
and  their  contract  of  marriage  was  read  aloud  in  the  Hall, 
and  witnessed,  and  sealed:  joyful  was  he!  Then  com- 
menced that  festival  which  lasted  forty  days,  and  is  termed 
the  Festival  of  the  honours  of  hospitality  to  the  Sons  of 
Aklis,  wherein  the  head-cook  of  the  palace,  Uruish,  per- 
formed wonders  in  his  science,  and  menaced  the  renown 
of  Zrmack,  the  head-cook  of  King  Shamshureen.  Even 
so  the  confectioner.  Dob,  excelled  himself  in  devices  and 
inventions,  and  his  genius  urged  him  to  depict  in  sugars 
and  pastes  the  entire  adventures  of  ShibU  Bagarag  in 


CONCLUSION  297 

search  of  the  Sword.     Honour  we  Uruish  and  Dob!  as  the 
poet  sayeth: 

Divide  not  this  fraternal  twain; 

One  are  they,  and  one  should  for  ever  remain: 

As  to  sweet  close  in  fine  music  we  look, 

So  the  Confectioner  follows  the  Cook. 

And  one  of  the  Sons  of  Aklis,  Zaragal,  beholding  this 
masterpiece  of  Dob,  which  was  served  to  the  guests  in  the 
Great  Hall  on  the  fortieth  evening,  was  fain  to  exclaim  in 
extemporaneous  verse: 

Have  I  been  wafted  to  a  rise 
Of  banquet  spread  in  Paradise, 
Dower'd  with  consuming  powers  divine, — 
That  I,  who  have  not  fail'd  to  dine, 

And  greatly, 
Fall  thus  upon  the  cates  and  wine 

Sedately  ? 

So  there  was  feasting  in  the  Hall,  and  in  the  City,  and 
over  Earth;  great  pledging  the  Sovereign  of  Barbers,  who 
had  mastered  an  Event,  and  become  the  benefactor  of  his 
craft  and  of  his  kind.  'Tis  certain  the  race  of  the  Bagarags 
endured  for  many  centuries,  and  his  seed  were  the  rulers 
of  men,  and  the  seal  of  their  empire  stamped  on  mighty 
wax  the  Tackle  of  Barbers. 

Now,  of  the  promise  made  by  the  Sons  of  Aklis  to  visit 
Shibli  Bagarag  before  their  compulsory  return  to  the 
labour  of  the  Sword,  and  recount  to  him  the  marvel  of 
their  antecedent  adventures;  and  of  the  love  and  grief 
nourished  in  the  souls  of  men  by  the  beauty  and  sorrowful 
eyes  of  Gulrevaz,  that  was  named  the  Bleeding  Lily,  and 
of  her  engagement  to  tell  her  story,  on  condition  of  receiv- 
ing the  first-born  of  Noorna  to  nurse  for  a  season  in  Aklis; 
and  of  Shibli  Bagarag's  restoration  of  towns  and  monu- 


29S  THE  SHAVING  OF  SHAGPAT 

rnents  destroyed  by  his  battle  wnth  Karaz ;  and  of  the  con- 
stancy of  passion  of  ShibH  Bagarag  for  Nooma,  and  hii; 
esteem  for  her  sweetness,  and  his  reverence  for  her  wisdom : 
antl  of  the  glory  of  his  reign,  and  of  the  Songs  and  Sen- 
tences of  Noorna,  and  of  his  Laws  for  the  protection  and 
iij)h()ltnng  of  women,  in  honour  of  Noorna,  concerning 
which  the  Sage  has  said : 

Were  men  once  clad  in  them,  we  should  create 
A  race  not  following,  but  commanding,  fate: 

— of  all  these  records,  and  of  the  reign  of  Baba  Mustapha 
in  Oolb,  surely  the  chronicles  give  them  in  fulness;  and 
they  that  have  searched  say  of  them,  there  is  matter 
therein  for  the  amusement  of  generations. 

THE   END 


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